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LENDEMAN'S ADVENTURES 



AMONG THE 



HIIHUilim All mi-UTEM; 



EXPLAINING HOW THE 



"RAPPINGS," "TABLE-TIPPINGS," PLAYING ON 
INSTRUMENTS, ETC., ARE DONE, 



AND WHERE THE 



SPIKIT COMMUNICATIONS COME FROM: 



CONTAINING A GREAT NUMBER OF 

EXCITING INCIDENTS OP THE RUIN OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ; 

OP LUNACIES ; SEDUCTIONS AND SUICIDES, CAUSED BY 

THESE INFERNAL SYSTEMS OF DECEPTION. 



by'lenderman. ^"-^ 





CINCINNATI: 

H. M. RULISON, 141 MAIN ST. 

1857. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by 

H. M. RULISON, 

In the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District 

of Ohio. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduction. Reasons for writing this Book. A Trip down the 
Mississippi in January, 1856. A beautiful Female Corpse taken 
from the River a* . The Locket and its Miniature. A Burn- 
ing Steamer. 

CHAPTER II. 

Return to . Obtain the Ring taken from the finger of the 

beautiful Corpse. The Queen City in the middle of the " Cold 
Winter." A Spirituo-Freelove Meeting ; Its Male and Female 
Attendants ; Its Entertainments. 

CHAPTER III. 

A Scene at the National Theater. Recognition of a Mysterious 
Character. Plan for obtaining an Interview. A Spiritualist's 
Parlor. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A Spiritual Leader. Suspicions Confirmed. Matilda JDeLong, the 
Spiritualist's Chambermaid. The Ring of the beautiful Corpse 
recognized. An Interesting Scene. A Visit to the People's Thea- 
ter. An Affectionate Couple. 

CHAPTER V. 

A Revelation. History of the Spiritual Leader, Guysot, and of his 
Wife. Matilda's Story of Herself. The Society of Freelovers of 
New York ; Its Wicked Doings. How Husbands were estranged 
from their Wives, and Wives seduced from their Husbands. Sad 
History of a beautiful and accomplished Lady, from a suburban 
Village, who fell a Victim to this infernal Clique. Story of Ed- 
ward Lawrence and his young W T ife. A double Suicide. A Victim 
of Despair. Escape of a Libertine. Causes of Self-destruction. 

CHAPTER VL 

Singular and Romantic History of Emily Lee, the beautiful Corpse, 
and of her Parents and Uncle. How she became the Spiritualist's 
Wife. Meeting of the Spiritualist's two Wives. Continuation of 
Matilda's Narrative. Her Meeting with Guysot's first Wife ; Her 
Repentance. A Spiritual Bed-chamber. Affecting Scene. Plan 
for breaking up the Orgies of the Spiritual Freelovers. 

w 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

A Spiritual Circle. A " Speaking Medium. " Description and His- 
tory of the Members of the " Circle. " The Rev. Mr. Faleau. Mrs. 

M , the Medium. The Widow Peabody. Landor. Miss 

B . The Pork Merchant's Wife. Mrs. N , etc. How 

Landor induced Miss B (a beautiful young lady) to attend 

these Meetings. Spiritual Wine. A Spiritual Dance. Rescue 
from Infamy. The Dance Suddenly Stopped. Dancers in Trouble. 
A Spiritual Leader Exposed. Matilda and Guysot. Terrible 
Scene. Death of the Leader. The Widow's Grief. 

CHAPTER YIII. 

House of Mourning. Mrs. Guysot. Henriette. Inside History of 
a Boarding School for Young Ladies. Mrs. Jelliot, the Matron. 
A Remarkable Sunday Morning Breakfast. A Solitary Burial. 
Another Victim of Spiritualism. A Harrowing Scene. The 
Monster Freelove. Arrival of Mrs. Guysot's Parents ; Their 
Deep Affliction. Melancholy Journey. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Gratitude of an Affectionate Heart. A Lovely Creature. Beauty 
in the Country and Beauty in the City. A Perfect Woman. How 
and where to find a handsome and sensible Woman. Cause of 
Homely Women. A Good-for-nothing Woman. Base Conduct of 
a Spiritualist. Infamous " Communications " of a "Medium." 
An Affecting Scene in the Cars. • 

CHAPTER X. 

Matilda's Revelations of the Horrid Acts of the Spiritual Freelove 
Society. Mary Vernon, the beautiful Glovemaker ; Her Sad 
History and Unhappy Death. A Family ruined by the Spiritual 
Demon. Pollock, the Spiritual Lecturer. Inhuman Wickedness 
of a Female Medium. The Lost One. Spiritualists Alarmed at 
their Wickedness. The Porter's and the Lady-boarder's Story. A 
Home Destroyed. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Honest Believers in Spiritualism. How Mediums are made. Where 
Spiritual Communications come from. The Credulity of Spirit- 
ualists. History of Mr. Levers and his Wife. Sincere Believers. 
How this Delusion changes the Character. The Bible De- 
nounced. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Selections from a Package of "Confidential Letters" from an Itin- 
erant Spiritual Lecturer and his Female Medium, to a Spiritual 
Leader in the City. How the People are Humbugged. An account 
of the Lecturer's* Adventures in different Countrv Villages. "As- 



NTENT8. VII 

tonishing the Natives." How the Spirits of Deceased Persons 
sometimes tell such straight Stories. Interesting Communication 
from the Dead Merchant. A Thief Discovered. How a Medium 
got "Trapped," and how she got out of it. Valuable Advice to Spir- 
tual Lecturers. The Fellow who was bound to see a Table moved. 
What kind of Tables and Rooms Spirits like. Wear and Tear of 
science. Spiritual Fools. A handsome young Widow who 
wanted a Communication — and got one. The Spiritualist who was 
starving himself to Death. The Widow whose husband had vis- 
ited her after death. Another Deranged Spiritualist. A rich story 
about a Widower who married his wife's sister through the in- 
fluence of Spiritualism. How the Lecturer was paid. Advantage 
of carrying a Gold Watch. How Lecturing on Spiritualism devel- 
ops the creative faculties. How the Lecturer came near losing his 
Medium, Base. Villainies of Spiritual Lecturers. Connection of 
Freelove with Spiritualism. A not very flattering description of 
a majority of Spiritualists. Their Motives. Continuation of Ma- 
tilda's Manila : 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Matilda sees an Advertisement in reference to her parentage. The 
: Child. Mysteries of a City Postoffice. Parents found. 
Going Home. A Trip to the North with Matilda and Henriette, 
An Intelligent Schoolmaster. An interesting society of Spiritual- 
ists in Northwestern Ohio. The Schoolmaster gives an account 
of their doings. The Shoemaker whose wife "rapped" herself to 
death. The rapping Bricklayer, and how he got his second wife 
by the aid of Spiritualism. A " Prescribing Medium." Spiritual 
Lieine. Remarkable Spiritual Practice. Diarrheas, toothaches 
and fresh cuts cured. A very ludicrous description of a Country 
Landlord, who dealt in Spiritual Elixirs. A laughable scene, in 
which the Landlord gets " overhauled." A Country "Dicker." 
A Child killed by Spiritual Medicine. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Dark Suspicions. An important charge given to Davison, the School- 
master. Traveling in a new country. Life in the Backwoods. A 
First Settler. Arrive at "Home." Domestic Scene. Farewell. 
Davison gives a history of Himself. A Noble Man. 

CHAPTER XV. 

A meeting with familiar characters on the Cars. An important con- 
versation overheard, and a dark conspiracy revealed. The Narra- 
tor's return to Cincinnati. Sister More-dock, the charming Medium. 
A Trump. A Philosophical Libertine. Marrying for Money. A 
Spendthrift getting economical. An unexpected meeting before 
r Moredock's. The Police attend a " Spiritual I inter- 

g Developments. A description of the twenty members of a 



Vttl CONTENTS. 

" Circle." Tne antics of Mediums, such as Singing, Shouting, 
Jerking, etc. A deluded Old Lady. Philosophy of the Human 
Battery. A Button-rose of a Woman. Spiritual Singing. A 
Spiritual Usher or " Ring Master." 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The Outsiders of the Circle. A Young Widow. A well-matched 
Couple. A withered Lady puffed out and patched up. A "Poll- 
evil Man." Last Chance for Matrimony. An old Spiritual Stage- 
horse not fond of dry provender. A Latin Communication. A 
Smoky Medium. An Indian Communication. Tecumseh on the 
Stand ; Tells who killed him ; Down on Dick Johnson. Spiritual 
Force " versus " Gravitation. How the " Tapping " and " Knock- 
ing " is done. A very Interesting Room up stairs. Admitted 
behind the Scenes of a Spiritual Stage. How the Tables are 
moved. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Mrs. Faleau (the Preacher's wife) meets her husband in Sister More- 
dock's parlor. A Fashionable Minister. Grand stampede among 
the Spiritualists. Mr. Faleau's Residence. Landor persuades the 
Preacher to elope with Miss Callan. Struggle between Sin and 
Conscience. Sin triumphs by the aid of Brandy. Landor has an 
interview with Miss Callan ; His appeal to her. Wavering be- 
tween Virtue and fear of Disgrace. A Convincing Argument. 
They all leave in the Cars for the North. 

CHAPTER XVIIL 

Waiting for a Letter. A Father's Gratitude. A Visit from Hen- 
riette's Father ; His Disappointment. An important Telegraphic 
Dispatch. A Second Trip to the North. The Father's Agony, 
Arrival at our Destination. A Model Landlord. " Dark as 
Pitch." The Adventures of a Night. " Spiritual Hall." A 
Description of the Company below, and an Account of their Do- 
ings. Henriette Discovered ; Her Perilous Situation. Miss Callan. 
Landor again. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The Spirit of Dr. Rush. Prescribes for Matilda and the School- 
master. Singular Advice of the Spirit to Henriette. Spiritual Fa- 
natics. Poor Henriette! An Import late Female Member. Three 
very Interesting Spiritual Widows, VVidow Blonde, Widow Open- 
face, the Consolable Widow Barnthissel. A Sovereign Rem- 
edy for Widows' Heart Wounds. Some Widowers to Match. 
■ Widowers' Evil ;" Its only cure. Advice to Married Men who 
expect to marry again. Marrying for a Living. " Aunt Bettie's." 
How to tell an Old Maid. Extraordinary personal attraction of a 
Spinster. A Selfish, Sensual Man. The Lights Blown Out. 



CONTENTS. IX 

How Spirits blow Horns and play on Fiddles. How Spiritual 
Hands and Arms are felt. The Meeting breaks up. Landor, the 
Medium and Henriette go off together. 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Medium. Mrs. Mad den's House. A Drunken Visitor. Horrid 
Plot of Poisoning revealed. Two Assistants admitted. The 
Preacher again. A terrible dilemma. Imploring Divine assist- 
ance. Landor confident of the consummation of his bliss ; His 
deceptive appeal to Henriette. Davison's fidelity impeached. A 
Forged Letter. A gross act of Brutality about to be committed. 
The Narrator. Recognition. A Fierce Struggle. Henriette's sup- 
plications for her Friend. A Conscious-stricken Man. The Red 
Man. His cruel alternative to Henriette. Her sacrifice to save 
her Friend. A moment of unutterable Agony. Death of the Feel- 
ings. A desperate attempt to Escape frustrated. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Change of Policy. A gloomy Marriage Feast. The Ceremony. 
A hopeless Intervention. The Narrator summarily dealt with. 
The Death Struggle. The Spirit World. A Delightful Vision. 
Davison's Escape. How he comes to the Narrator's assistance ; 
His Story. Some good that Whisky did. Spiritual Medicine. 
Providential Interference. Rendering thanks "to God. Matilda. 
A Sad Sight A Poisoned Woman. How News circulates in a 
little Town. How Neighbors' Characters are found out. Mrs. La- 
bial and "Neighbor over the fence." The Town Pump. Mrs. 
Labial ■ makes tracks." The Story about Jack. The astonishment 
and horror of the Burghers at the late Tragedy. Judge Lynch. 
44 The Birds are flown." "Sloping." 

CHAPTER XXII. 

The Red Man, Jim, brought to Trial. A Corncrib Court-house. 
The Country "'Squire ;" His Library and " Court Fixins." Petti- 
foggers. Law in the Country. The Pettifogging Doctor. The 
County Seat Attorney, Mr. McLaughlin, Esq. Country Lawyers. 
Symptoms of being Whiskyized. A Lawyer's Fee. M Fixes it 
up." The Elephant of Law made to perform astonishing evolu- 
tions. Legal Lore. Wonderful "Precedents." The "'Squire" is 
able to defend one side of the case. Mr. Blower insists on being 
advocate for the State. Mr. McLaughlin, Esq.'s Speech. Hits the 
" 'Squire" aud his Wife between "Wind and Water." The Ver- 
dict. Singular manner of disposing of Criminals in the North- 
west. The Attorney looks out for the " main chance." Return 
to Cincinnati. A happy Company depart for home. Waiting for 
a Letter. 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

A large Letter. A most interesting and exciting Narrative from the 
Schoolmaster. A Trip down the Mississippi. Mysterious Passen- 
gers. Matilda and Henriette missing. Mr. Brandon and Davison 

return to . Waiting for a Steamboat. The Father stricken 

down with despair. Fruitless Search. A Clue. The Little Boy's 
Story. Pursuit. A Mississippi Homestead. Negro "Frolic and 
Breakdown." Phil lets it out; His " dicker " with the strange 
men. The "Handsum Wimen. ,, Important Discovery. A Night 
Ride through the Woods. Phil's Cabin in the Woods. " Just in 
Time." An Exciting Scene. Henriette Saved. Sam's Cabin. 
Important Arrest. A Happy Liberation. A couple of " bad- 
scared " Negroes. Air Castles Demolished. " Massa Jennins." 
" Perfectly astonished." Going to Court. Bound Over. A Mis- 
sissippi Lawyer. Landor's Letter to his Wife. Faleau's Letter 
to Miss Callan. Return to . A happy Reunion. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Arrive Home. A Model Plantation. Life in Louisiana. Other 
Letters received, a month having elapsed. Joyful Tidings. A 
most happy arrangement " all round." " The Happiest of Men." 
A perfect enjoyment of earthly bliss. Joyous Conclusion. 



LENDEMAN'S ADVENTURES 



AMONG THE 



SPIRITUALISTS AND FREE-LOVERS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introduction. Reasons for writing this book. A trip down the Mis- 
sissippi in January, 1 856. A beautiful Female Corpse taken from the 
River at . The Locket and its Miniature. A burning Steamer. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The causes that led the author into such a practical 
acquaintance with the workings of Spiritualism and 
Free-Loveism, as the following pages will indicate, 
was, in the first place, the incident of a beautiful female 
corpse being found under very mysterious circum- 
stances ; whose death was afterward traced to the door 
of these nefarious delusions. 

And the author was further incited to an exposition 
of their evil tendencies, by having some of those he held 

dearest on earth fall victims to these fell destroyers. 

• # # # # 

In the mid-winter of 1856, I was a passenger on the 
steamer William Noble, bound for New Orleans. As 

we rounded up to the levee at , I noticed a crowd 

of people collected a few rods above where the steamer 
landed. They seemed intently occupied with some 
object in their midst. With the curiosity of all humau3 

U} ) 



12 Lenderman's Adventures among 

traveling, with only now and then an object to excite 
the curiositv, as is the case in descending; the Missis- 
sippi in the winter time, I insinuated myself into the 
crowd, and soon saw what attracted its attention. The 
first sight struck me with feelings very discordant in 
their nature ; feelings of admiration commingled with 
feelings of horror. There lay a corpse, — a female 
corpse ; — it was stretched on a rude plank. The drip- 
ping garments told whence it came. A corpse did I 
say? Imagine not a bloated, disfigured object, with 
slimy skin, protruding tongue, and staring eyes ; but 
an angelic form, perfect in every lineament of female 
beauty, sleeping "that breathless sleep that knows no 
waking." I scarce could believe that the lovely form 
before me was inanimate. It seemed as though those 
delicate eyelids, with their long black lashes, should 
open and display the crystal mirrors of a spotless soul. 
I watched to see that deep chest heave its alabaster 
whiteness. But no! those eyelids opened not, that 
deep chest heaved not, — she was dead, — that beautiful 
being! The coldness of the water, no doubt, was the 
cause of this perfect preservation of the features. 

She was dressed in a rich but tasteful style, com- 
bining comfort with elegance. Around her small white 
neck was a beautifully worked collar. A scolloped 
cloth cape, of finest texture, covered her round, taper- 
ing shoulders; over this was a splendid large shawl 
and victorine. Her dress was a plaid silk, covering 
underclothes of spotless whiteness and beautifully em- 
broidered. Her small, delicate foot and ankle were 
incased in a close-fitting gaiter. Her head was cov- 
ered with an opera netting, and a brown silk handker- 
chief, tied under the chin. She wore a gold watch and 
a necklace : to the latter was attached a golden cross, 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 15 

sot with jewels at its upper part. Her dress was low 
in the bosom, so that the standard of the cross was seen 
resting between the risings of her breast. On the fore- 
finger of the right hand was a ring, set with a beautiful 
diamond. Three letters were engraven on the inside 
of the rins;. 

A coroner-s jury was holding its inquest over the 
body at the time. No clue had been found to her his- 
tory, and the stereotyped verdict was about being ren- 
dered by the pompous and officious foreman, "The 
deceased came to her death by drowning,' 5 when a little 
boy whispered to one of the jurymen, "What is that 
shiny little thing in her bosom ?" pointing to a glitter- 
ing object just visible under the edge of her dress. The 
juryman, acting on this suggestion, drew forth a beau- 
tiful gold and pearl-mounted porte-monnaie ; although 
it seemed a desecration for his rough hand to be thus 
rudely thrust into her bosom. 

With that peculiar expression of physiognomy indi- 
cating a consciousness of superior penetration, he gave 
himself great credit for the discovery. The foreman 
stopped short in his verdict at "drown," just before 
getting the "ing" out, and reaching forth his hand 
with that supreme authority, which none but a small 
official can display, took the porte-monnaie, and with 
raised eyebrows, depressed cheeks, and elongated fea- 
tures generally, intended to impress on the minds of 
the bystanders an idea of the aw r ful responsibilities that 
were resting on him, he took the porte-monnaie, and 
unclasping it, drew forth something wrapped up in 
several thicknesses of paper, which being easily slipped 
oft*, from its being saturated with water, displayed a 
gold locket, on one side of which was a daguerre- 
otype miniature of a gentleman ; on the other side was 



16 Lenderman's Adventures amons 

inclosed a braid of hair of a dark-brown color, — a shade 
lighter than the tresses that shone in such contrast with 
the whiteness of the beautiful corpse. 

The same curiosity that drew me to the spot, caused 
me to notice particularly the features of the likeness 
found under such mysterious circumstances. The 
original of that likeness must have been a very hand- 
some man, I thought; although there was an expres- 
sion of countenance that started a suspicion in my mind 
in reference to the case before me. It seemed to me 
that those eyes, though bright and intelligent, glowed 
with the light of sensuality rather than pure genius ; 
they seemed gloating over some sensual pleasure about 
to be enjoyed. And this was the general expression 
of the countenance ; it was pleasant, it smiled, but it 
seemed the libertine's smile over vanquished virtue. 

I glanced again at the corpse. An appearance struck 
me that could not have been the result of ordinary de- 
composition, for that had not as yet taken place. Per- 
haps my professional character caused me to notice this 
appearance sooner than others. I called the foreman 
aside, and suggested the propriety of a post-mortem 
examination, telling him my reasons. He acquiesced 
and invited me to preside at the examination. I told 
him I would, if the boat remained long enough. After 
going aboard and ascertaining that the boat would 
remain for a couple of hours, I took a case of dissect- 
ing instruments from my trunk, and was conducted to 
a little room near by, into which the corpse had been 
taken, and which was occupied by the jury alone. I 
made the examination and found my suspicions con- 
firmed ; she had been enceinte for about four months. 
I had no time to stay longer for the boat's bell was 
ringing, and I hurried on board. 



Tint Bfhhtcalists and Free - Lovers. 17 

Strange thoughts occupied my mind, — thoughts of the 
scene I had just witnessed. Having been broken 
of my rest the night before, I retired early to my state- 
room, and soon fell into a disturbed, dreamy sleep. 
Strange images haunted my brain. That beautiful 
ee seemed living before me, and with countenance 
and voice prostrated with grief, she fell at the feet of a 
man resembling him of the locket, clasping his knees 
in wild despair and imploring him with tears and sup- 
plications to save her from worse than death, — from 
infamy ! He pushed her from him with an unfeeling 
smile more cruel than the bitterest curse. She shrieked 
and fell insensible to the floor. I awoke. It was a 
dream. That shriek was the steamer's whistle. A 
bright red light was glowing through the stateroom 
door opening on the guard. An unusual commotion 
of voices and tramping of feet was heard in every part 
of the boat. The thought flashed through my mind 
that the boat was on fire, although no alarm of fire was 
heard. I jumped from my berth and rushed to the 
guard ; a glance explained it all.* We were rounding 
up to a burning steamer. What an awful sight ! She 
was glowing like a furnace ; the flames crackling and 
her splendid finishings dissolving away before the 
devouring element. Horrid groans came from the 
burning mass. Could it be human being3 that were 
thus being burned alive? Oh what a horrid thought! 
Between the boat and bank were seen female forms, 
in their night-clothes, wading to their arms along the 
uncertain bank, their faces and shoulders scorched by 
the heat. The bow of the burning steamer touches the 

* The steamer Mediator was burned below , on the night of the 

5th of January, 1856. 



IS Lenderman's Adventures among 

bank, — she is swinging round toward them, — another 
moment and they are lost ! Brave-hearted fellows are 
assisting them through the deep water at the risk 
of their own lives. They reach a ravine in which is 
moored a small boat, — they are drawn into it. Thank 
God ! they are saved ! I can see now that the groans 
are from horses and cattle tied on the deck. Oh 
what suffering these poor animals endure ! A voice 
from the bank cries, "Mate, are they all saved?" 
11 Yes," answers from the ravine. 

The Noble (and she well deserves the name) took 
aboard the unfortunate, or rather, fortunate beings, 
many of whom had on but a single garment, and that 
frozen stiff as a sheeting of ice. The table-covers 
served to protect the females until they were brought 
into the ladies' cabin, and there they were provided 
with warm clothing, and their blistered wounds dressed 
with the tenderest care. One young lady was a most 
beautiful being, and the heart shuddered to think that 
one so lovely was so near being consumed in the ruth- 
less flames. Every attention possible was paid to the 
sufferers. Indeed it almost made shipwreck desirable, 
if the wrecked were sure of being picked up by such a 
Noble crew. 

For days I could not get that scene at from my 

mind. Some mysterious and horrid crime seemed asso- 
ciated with the affair. Although actual violence and 
bloodshed did not appear connected with it, yet a deeper 
crime, the murder of the heart, — the soul, — infinitely 
more atrocious than that which is punished by killing 
the body, seemed pointing its bloody finger to the man 
of the locket. Business and the gayeties of the "Cres- 
cent City," finally drove these gloomy thoughts, for the 
most part, from my mind; although when alone, with 



The SriRiTCALisrs and Free-Lovers. 19 

none to commune with but myself, that corpse would 
again appear, that locket would again show its braid of 
brown hair, and its smiling image. 



CHAPTER II. 

Return to . Obtain the Ring taken from the finger of the beautiful 

Corpse. The Queen City in the middle of the " Cold Winter." A 
Spirituo-Freelove Meeting ; its Male and Female Attendants ; its 
Entertainments. 

About the middle of February I was on my return 
from New Orleans. I longed for the time when we 
should arrive at , hoping that I might learn some- 
thing more concerning the mysterious corpse. The 
boat was to remain but a short time at that point, not 
having much freight to discharge, which would render 
my chances for inquiry rather limited. When we were 
approaching the landing, by the potent influence of a 
few " quarters," the deck-hands shoved a plank out, that 
enabled me to get ashore some minutes before I other- 
wise could have done. After almost despairing of find- 
ing a person that knew any thing about the jurymen who 
held the inquest, a lame fellow, whose inquisitive coun- 
tenance and seedy garments pointed him out as being 
one of those Free Intelligence Men whose only business 
is to attend punctually to what is going on about town, 
philanthropically discharging this important public ser- 
vice without hope of honor or compensation, spoke up 

and said: " Mr. M , the foreman of that jury lives 

but a step from here." 

11 Take me there as quickly as possible, and here is a 
half-dollar for your trouble." • 



20 Lendeeman's Adventures among 

This unaccustomed stimulus made the short leg travel 
remarkably, considering the roughness of the pavement, 
but it seemed a snail-gait to me. As soon as he pointed 
out the house I left him, and in a moment, found myself 
with the official aforesaid. Nothing had been learned 
in relation to the affair. The jewelry and clothing were 

in the possession of Mr. M . The corpse had been 

interred in the city cemetery. Mr. M consented to 

my taking the ring with the engraved letters, on my 
depositing with him twice its estimated value in money. 
I left my address, and promised to return the ring if it 
were called for. 

Again I was on my way. I now gave up all hope of 
ever learning more of the matter, and consigned it with 
its beautiful subject to the grave of oblivion. Finally, 
by steamboat, stage, and railroad, I arrived at Cincin- 
nati. I found the Queen City perfectly congealed — 
its river, streets, water-pipes, cisterns, and even the gas 
seemed to have frozen in its tardy course. All that was 
w r anting, after sunset, to make an Arctic landscape, were 
the aurora borealis and the white bear. Business was 
stagnant ; even the odor of pork-houses on upper Broad- 
way, was bearable, for King Frost had forced a cessation 
of hostilities in the hog war. 

The levee, so full of life at ordinary times, was now 
deserted. The bar-keepers on Water-street felt sensibly 
that " Othello's occupation" was gone. Instead of 
steamboats going out or seeking a crevice to insinuate 
their bows, sleighs and huge wood-wagons, and long 
columns of pedestrians were passing and repassing the 
Ohio in perfect security. Even grim Death had been 
frozen out, for scarcely a doctor could be seen in his car- 
riage unless he was going to set some limb, broken 
by a fall on the icy pavements. The peanut and toy 



The Spiritcalists and Free-Lovers. 21 

women, in spite of their big cloaks and charcoal fires, 
were fairly driven from their corners. The newsboys 
were the only undaunted soldiers in the field, for with 
vermilion faces, and icicled noses, and shrill voices, they 
filled the air with frozen " Evening Times — three o'clock 
edition ;" « Arrival of the Baltic ;" " All about the Run- 
away Niggers ;" u Only half a dime !" 

The only establishments that did any business at all, 
were the places of amusement. People seemed desir- 
ous of seeing others work, if they could not work them- 
selves. Entertainments were well attended that would 
hardly have been noticed in busier times. There were 
the Ilutchinsons singing Anti-Slavery and Hydropathic 

songs to halls-full. There was Prof. making a 

kettle-drum of himself, and there was Mrs. McC 

peafowling it most scientifically. Mrs. F had been 

" bobbing around," and "Our Mary Anning" it until 
she had bobbed quite a little sum into " Oar Mary 
Ann's" pocket. Then there were the "Infernal Re- 
gions," the Big Sheep on Fifth street, the "Lager Bier 
Institute," exhibits of doctor-factories, and nightly scin- 
tillations of genius in the shape of twenty-five cent 
lectures. On Sunday evenings political speeches could 
be heard without going to Washington. Every Sunday, 
in the forenoon, telegraphic dispatches from the Spirit 
Land were obtainable at ten cents per communication — 
Office of the combined Spiritual and Free-Love lines at 
the Mechanic's Institute. 

Every Sunday afternoon a delectable intellcctuo-sen- 
suo-spiritual repast was served up at the above-named 
office, in the shape of a discussion on Free-Love. A 
delicious treat it was. and it was enjoyed by a highly 
appreciative audience (judging from the frequent ap- 
plauses manifested in stampings, and clappings, and 



22 Lendeeman's Adventukes among 

hissings). The principal speakers appeared to be a two- 
and-a-half- rate lawyer (not Mr. OTlinnigen,) a liliputian 
sprout from some such legal stock as the above, in the 
shape of a little sorrel-headed, turned-up-nosed Cicero, 
who imagined he was not only eloquent and logical, but 
majestically lady-killing (a universal delusion of lilipu- 
tianism). A street-preacher, neither sane nor insane, 
neither white nor black, insisted, with tempestuous rav- 
ings and windmill gestures, that man had a perfect right 
to do just as he u darned pleased." His harangue was 
once abbreviated as to length and energy by some ill- 
mannered fellow suggesting, that said principle of man, 
doing as he " darned pleased," did not hold good during 
a coercive residence in a certain public institution. This 
suggestion seemed to turn his oratory into a less vocif- 
erous channel, as though it brought to mind unpleasant 
reminiscences of the past. Another character was an 
unshaved bison from the backwoods, who prided him- 
self on being a perfectly illiterate but natural philoso- 
pher — a hairy, skinny, wrinkled, and bold champion of 
Free-Love. If the ladies wanted something natural, 
unsophisticated, here they had it — the pure ore. 

Another portrait in this group of illustrious reformers 
was that of a round and bald-headed, short-necked, 
sandy- whiskered, white eyebrowed, and thick-set little 
man, who brought his wife (I suppose) and child to 
learn the very agreeable intelligence that he did not 
consider himself bound to continue his matrimonial re- 
lations with said wife any longer than chance should 
throw some fairer one in his way (w r hich circumstance, 
it must be admitted, might possibly occur). His wife, 
however, seemed determined to get as much out of him 
as she could before his passional electricity should at- 
tract him to some other object: for between speaking 



The Spiritualists and Fbek-Lovkbs. 23 

and u tending baby/ 5 he was the busiest man in the 
room. 

But when the chieftain of the Free-Lovers arose, the 
leader of the hosts of the hall , all other char- 
acters became imperceptible. He stood like an impreg- 
nable tower, tall, erect, his curious, inexplicable eyes, 
gleaming out from behind their shadings of dark hair, 
dark eyebrows, dark moustaches, and dark whiskers, 
like the eyes of a serpent, gleaming in the dark passage 
of its rocky cavern. His reasoning, to the superficial 
thinker, bore the semblance of truth. 

The music of those heavenly words, Liberty, Free- 
dom, and Love so threw its melody over his discourse 
as to drown the horrid discords of its principles. The 
thinking hearer was left in doubt whether to consider 
him an arch-hypocrite, or a very intelligent man, whose 
mind had been distorted by the visionary reveries of 
Spiritualism. 

The audience was " mixed," in the true sense of the 
word. There were gray-headed men whose " passional 
feelings," it would seem, should have given place to a 
feeling after eternal salvation. There were young men 
in the vigor of manhood, the object of whose attend- 
ance was very apparent. The most of the male attend- 
ants were, however, middle-aged, hard-featured and 
hirsute men, whose countenances exhibited three strik- 
ing features : a mask of hair, a pair of gleaming, de- 
vouring eyes, and a subtermoustachial opening. Al- 
though a few of them appeared to be accompanied by 
their legal consorts, the observer would get the impres 
sion, judging from the expression of their countenances 
during the advancement of different principles by the 
speakers, that they would rather have left said wives at 
home, and, that they rejoiced in the prospective Free 

o 

O 



24 Lehdebstan's Adventures among 

Love millennium which would enable them to throw 
aside their old unfashionable wives, and take a new 
style every six months, at least. 

The female portion of the audience came mostly by 
themselves ; indicating extraordinary self-confidence, or 
else a lack of that " passional electricity," which should 
have drawn some male to their side. A majority of 
these females appeared to have passed that culminating 
point where female charms exert their most powerful 
influence, without having become aware of it; still 
thinking they ruled on the throne of youthful beauty,' 
and wondering why homage was not paid to them as of 
yore. Unhappy delusion ! which their mirrors would 
have dispelled if reflected on aright. A dash of 
strong-mindedness in their sharp features indicated that 
a vague presentiment of crumbling thrones might have 
flitted through their minds and stimulated them to an 
exaction of coercive homage to their power. At least, 
we, as a modest non-resistant, acknowledged an un- 
manly trepidation when the hawk-eyes of these Ama- 
zons directed hitherward their not-to-be-resisted currents 
of "passional electricity." 

Some of these females appeared to be widows, or 
" grass widows," at least, if there is any confidence to 
be placed in Mr. Weller's remarks on "Vidders." 
Others appeared to be spinsters, still clinging to the 
forlorn hope ; wdiile a few specimens could not, by any 
possibility, have come there with any hope of reciprocity 
of "passional attraction;" for they were not only old, 
wrinkled, skinny, gray, toothless, but actually deformed 
by hirsute appendages, wry necks, or hunchbacks. 

There were some exceptions to these descriptions. 
They were not all long lank-sided, hollow-jawed, sallow- 
skinned, deformed termagants, insisting on what no man 



The Spiritualists and Fbee-Lovbm. 25 

with // u. man feelings could give — his love. Some really 
I -looking females were there — females, who, one 
Would have supposed, could have obtained reciprocal 
love that was not so cheap as the article in that market. 
If these good-looking females came there to be noticed, 
they were fully gratified; for they were "the observed 
of all observers," both male and female. By the for- 
mer they were gazed on with the gloating, lascivious 
eyes of passional desire ; by the latter with the green- 
eyed side-glance of torturing envy. These comely 
females obtained, no doubt, a plenty of "joassionaV 1 
rs. 
The style of the discussion was as free as the sub- 
ject. As "an illustration of its freedom, I w r ill introduce 
a quotation which was read from a standard spiritual 
work and indorsed by the chieftain then present. It was 
to this effect, that "the woman is more an audulteress 
who sleeps nightly with her legal husband, whom she 
does not love, than she who sleeps promiscuously with 
many men ; for in the latter case she will occasionally 
embrace the man she loves." One left these meetings 
with a feeling of disgust at human nature thus degene- 
rated — thus prostituting the noblest of its attributes to 
the basest distortions of its animal passions ; and not 
without a feeling of fear, also, that such public advo- 
cacy of prostitution, and that, too, on the most sacred 
grounds and on the most sacred of days, would have a 
tendency to subvert those social laws that now bind 
together the family circle with the sacred ties of holy 
relationship. With what subtile and flowery speech 
can evil disguise itself! How apt is poor, weak hu- 
manity to be deceived and led into error by the power 
of darkness, arrayed in the robes of heavenly light ! 
Oh ! how dangerous to the temporal and eternal welfare 



2t> Lendekman's Adventures among 

of the yet virtuous, to listen to the harmonial warblings 
of these spiritual vultures, with fronts gentle and unas- 
suming as the dove, but with hearts blacker than 
Tartarean darkness, and with principles fit only for the 
lowest depths of hell. But let the victim, who is about 
being fascinated with this delusive music of the arch- 
fiend, read the eye of the enchanter, and she will there 
see the fires of sensuality glowing in all their animal 
ferocity, gloating over and devouring, in anticipation, 
her virtue — her life-blood — her soul ! 

Beware, then, Oh virtuous woman ! how you listen 
to the first strains of that syren music which tells you 
your virtue and constancy are an incumbrance to your 
enjoyment. Beware how you tarry in your virtuous 
path to look down the broad, flowery avenue of unli- 
censed love, lest you be tempted to walk therein, from 
which you can not return untainted and pure ! 



CHAPTEE III. 

A Scene at the National Theater. Recognition of a Mysterious Char- 
acter. Plan for obtaining an Interview. A Spiritualist's Parlor. 

At this time the beautiful and heart-touching play of 
Camille was being performed at the " National" theater. 

With a large company from the House, I strayed 

there one evening, and found myself pleasantly seated in 
the Dress-circle of this well-arranged play-house. The 
Dress-circle, Parquette, and Box-tier were well filled : 
the first, with the fashion ; the second, with the intel- 
lectual; the third, with those who "could see just as 
well from the boxes for a quarter as those beneath them 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 27 

could fur half a dollar." The third tier, which is con- 
sidered neither " respectable" nor "vulgar" — being an 
anomalous department, a sort of a middle ground 
between the two classes to be occupied by neither — was 
nearly empty, while the fourth tier was well filled by 
those whose position was decided and unquestionable. 
Opera-glasses protruded themselves in the Dress-circle, 
like turtles' heads in a millpond, seeing what they could 
see. One would suppose that the occupants of the 
Dress-circle were all oculists or dentists examining 
minutely the motes in their neighbors' eyes or the cavi- 
ties in their teeth ; or else, that Cincinnati uppcr- 
tendom had all of a sudden become inveterate natural- 
ists, and were examining, microscopically, the intimate 
anatomy, both normal and abnormal, of every remark- 
able specimen beneath the Box-tier, with a view 
probably of classifying said specimens, to see which 
in reality were naturally tropical, dress-circle plants, 
and which were exotics belonging to higher latitudes. 
The natural and artificial beauties of the performers 
were also subjected to this microscopical examination, 
revealing, probably, some such physical facts as these : 
that red paint, drawn transversely across the forehead, 
is the proximate cause of wrinkles, instead of care and 
old age, as is generally supposed ; that vermilion, in- 
stead of arterial blood, gives redness to the cheeks, and 
that flour, instead of fright, blanches them ; that large 
calves are made up of cotton-bats and old newspapers, 
instead of muscle. In fact, the theater affords a whole 
world for the investigation of these diligent and enthusi- 
astic naturalists. So vast is the field, indeed, that they 
have not even commenced, as yet, on the upper strata, 
for seldom was a glass directed to the upper tiers, unless 
it were that of some inexperienced miss in her teens, 



28 Lendeeman's Adventures among 

whose taste was not sufficiently cultivated to distinguish 
the difference between beauty in the upper, from that in 
the lower tiers. 

Our scientific cogitations, however, were suddenly 
arrested by an object directly opposite — a gentleman 
whose features seemed to strike me with a peculiar, 
inexpressible sensation, suggestive of some painful 
reminiscence. I looked, and looked again. It seemed 
as though I had seen that countenance, and yet I could 
not tell where. I commenced analyzing his features — 
recognition suddenly flashed on my mind. It was the 
face of the locket. If he had seen my face at that 
instant, I fear he would have noticed an expression 
of fearful interest in his behalf. The play and the 
gay circle around had but little attraction to me after 
that. I could not keep my eyes from that countenance. 
The pale corpse of the Mississippi seemed to rise at 
my side and whisper, " That is he." My absence, or 
rather intense occupation of mind was noticed by those 
near me, and more than once was I addressed the second 
time before answering. 

By the side of this gentleman sat a woman who once 
was beautiful ; her tall, symmetric form, her delicatety- 
drawn features, her rich dark hair, her deep, soul-speak- 
ing eyes told how brilliant she once had been. But 
those features were now clouded. Trouble and grief 
had unquestionably thrown their dark shadings over 
them. Her melancholy look showed that despair had 
long since usurped the throne of her earthly bliss. Her 
adoring but subdued glances on him at her side, spoke 
too plainly of unreciprocated love. 

The last act of the play was being performed. 
Camille had sunk on her dying couch, overcome by the 
unnatural exertion that the excitement of her loved 



Thk Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 29 

Armand's return and reconciliation ha J produced. 
Already her angelic soul was taking its flight to 
the spirit world. The theater was a sea of streaming 
eyes, a vast alcove of whispering sighs. Stillness, 
almost painful, reigned through those living tiers. My 
eyes were still drawn to their attracting magnet. That 
closing scene worked changes in his countenance 
which painful recollections alone could produce. Self- 
condemnation unmistakable haunted his tortured soul. 
The scene was painful to him. Often did he glance 
around him suspiciously and on the being by his side, 
as though he feared his uneasiness would be noticed — 
as though he feared some horrid revelation which should 
consign him to ruin and infamy. His companion 
seemed perfectly absorbed in the play ; her soul united 
in sympathy with Camille. More than the ordinary 
appreciation of good acting affected her ; the tears that 
silently coursed down her pale cheeks, flowed from a 
heart-felt stimulus. 

The curtain dropped at the close of the last scene. I 
resolved to find the residence of this gentleman and 
lady. While the majority of the audience was waiting, 
amid deafening yells and stampings to see Miss Heron 
come before the curtain, I made my w T ay out, and came 
directly in contact with the objects of my search, as 
they were leaving the entrance of the theater. I kept 
near enough so as not to lose sight of them, nor yet 
be noticed, which was easily done, as they walked in 
the middle of the street (the sidewalks being so icy as 
to render them dangerous). Very few words passed 
veen them, and these were monosyllables and. 
quickly spoken. 

Finally, after a long walk, they stopped at an iron 
railing before a medium-sized brick house, situated 



30 Lendeeman's Adventures among 

a few feet back from the street. The gentleman un- 
locked the gate and they entered the house at the back 
door. Having noticed the number of the house and 
the name of the street, I returned to my hotel just in 
time to be taken to task for leaving my company in such 
an abrupt manner at the theater. I had been so taken 
up with my adventure, that the impropriety of my sud- 
den departure had not occurred to me until I entered 
the parlor and heard my acquaintances discussing cer- 
tain singular actions which I knew had reference to 
myself. One young lady was just saying, " I think he 
must have been struck with Mrs. Guysot, the spiritual- 
ist's wife, his attention seemed so perfectly absorbed in 
that direction." 

"Mrs. who did you say?" I asked, perfectly off my 
guard. 

"Didn't I tell you so?" giggled the little minx; and 
she made the parlor ring with laughter at my expense. 

"I wonder if he hasn't killed Mr. G and brought 

his pretty wife to our cave here. Quite a romantic 

adventurer, I declare. Say, , did you get wounded 

in the encounter?" and she went on; as the saying is, 
" I could not put in a word edgewise." And if I could 
have done it, I hardly know what word it would have 
been. 

When I had retired to my room, I examined the 
letters in the ring. They did not correspond with the 
name the young lady had mentioned. But then she 
might have been mistaken as to the persons who attrac- 
ted my attention during the evening. Nothing could 
dissuade me from the belief that he was the original of 
that likeness of the locket. And then this ring might 
have been given her by some one else. And might not 
this gentleman have changed his name? I had that 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 31 

opinion of his character that would warrant such a 
supposition. 

It was two o'clock before I went to bed, and then 
sleep did not accompany me. In vain did I try to drive 
thought from my mind — it would return. It appeared 
as though all the blood of my body was trying to get 
into my brain, which seemed laboring to devise some 
plan to resolve the doubts and anxieties that crowded 
there. A plan suggested itself at last by which I could 
become introduced to the gentleman, and, perhaps 
satisfy myself as to whether my suspicions were right 
or not. If this gentleman be a spiritualist, thought I, 
lie will be anxious to buy any new w T ork on Spiritualism, 
or any new physiological works that promise to give 
new ideas on that subject. I will assume the character 
of a book agent. I will hunt up some new books on 
these subjects, works that have just been published, and 
call on him to sell them, and thus get an introduction 
and satisfy my mind as to his relation with the mys- 
terious locket. 

Having perfected my plan, I was enabled to fall into 
a doze of sleep toward morning, from which I was 
wakened by the breakfast bell. "How do you feel this 
morning?" asked my fair tormentress, as I took my 

seat at the table. "I think looks kind of drowsy 

this morning; don't you think so, Lizzy? The sorrow- 
ful Mrs. Guysot must have haunted him last night." 

u Why, Mag, I really begin to think you are getting 
jealous of Mrs. Guysot, I declare," retorted Lizzy. 

This new view of the matter was immediately in- 
dorsed by the whole company, which turned the joke 
fairly on the joker: and I must acknowledge that her 
crimson face and stammering words rather confirmed 
the suggestion. 



32 Lej^debman ? s Adventures among 

After breakfast, having made some inquiries of a 
foreman printer who boarded at the hotel, as to the 
different publishing houses and as to the nature of the 
books they were then publishing, I was induced to call 

at the " house," which the printer said, was just 

issuing a series of Physiological and Medical works. 
A part of the works had been stereotyped at the 
establishment over which the foreman presided, and he 
had thereby become acquainted with their contents. 

I was welcomed into the office of the above-named 
publishing house with all the attention and politeness 
that an enthusiastic book agent could desire. I told the 
proprietor I wished an agency for the new Physiological 
works he was publishing. 

The book publisher was warming up in the eulogy 
of his ware, when I interrupted him by saying, that I 
thought I would take an agency for these books — at 
least I would start out and try it, and if the business 
paid me better than any other, I might continue in it. 

"Mr. ," he said, addressing his head clerk, 

" will you furnish this gentleman some pamphlet copies 
of ?'" 

The proprietor then sat down and gave me a regular 
lecture on " book-selling," and so eloquent was he on its 
beauties and profits, its benefits to the body, mind, 
pocket, and to humanity at large, that he almost per- 
suaded me to become a bona fide book agent and to 
leave all other callings for this. 

The clerk soon entered with a copy of each of the 
above-named works in a half-finished condition, with- 
out being trimmed or bound, and minus the illustra- 
tions — the engravings of which were not yet finished. 
I took them and was about leaving, when the proprietor 
called me back and asked what district I wanted to 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 33 

canvass in. After thinking a moment, I concluded to 
take that part of the city bounded by Fifth street on the 
south, Walnut on the east, and the Canal on the north, 
extending westward to Mill Creek. This, I knew, would 

include Xo. , street. In going up Main street 

I noticed, in the show-window of a bookstore, the ad- 
vertisement of a new work on Spiritualism, by Prof. 

. This was just what I wanted, and I soon had it 

under my arm with the others. 

It was now nine o'clock. This is not too early to 
call, I thought. If I dou't call pretty early I may not 
find him at home ; and so I bent my steps toward Xo. 

, street. With not a little misgiving and 

trepidation I drew the bell-knob. I had committed a 
great oversight in not thinking over what to say in my 
new capacity of book agent. This thought coming sud- 
denly on my mind, already wavering as to the propriety 
of the adventure, quite disconcerted me ; and when the 
door opened, and a young woman of prepossessing 
appearance and address stood before me, my tongue 
u cleaved to the roof of my mouth." I know that I 
must have cut a ridiculous figure, indeed. By good 
luck, a book fell from my relaxed arm, prompting 
me in my part. "Is the gentleman of the house in?*' 
I asked. 

"He is, sir; walk in," she replied, in a sweet, but 
apparently melancholy voice. 

I soon found myself seated on a large and voluptuous 
sofa, surrounded by all the magnificent appointments 
of a fashionable parlor. Easy-chairs, lounges, and tete- 
a-tetes of the latest style, were tastefully arranged around 
the room. The walls were hung with oil paintings — ex- 
quisite delineations of the male and female perfections 
of the human form — close and free imitations of nature. 



34: Lendekman's Adventures among 

One painting in particular — a representation of Don 
Juan and Haide — was a perfect specimen of art. Even 
the costly carpet and brilliant rugs were inwoven with 
voluptuous pictures that would well become the golden 
frames that adorned the walls. The center-table was 
covered with richly-bound copies of Swedenborg, Byron, 
Davis, Paine, Ovid, and a variety of spiritual books 
and journals. A number of daguerreotypes were also 
strewed over the table. But in vain did I look among 
those likenesses of handsome men and women for the 
image of the beautiful corpse. The rich and peculiar 
ornaments of the parlor strengthened my conviction 
that I was on the right track ; and the character of the 

books on the table satisfied me that Miss D was 

right in her surmises. 



CHAPTER IV. 

A Spiritual Leader. Suspicions Confirmed. Matilda De Long, the 
Spiritualist's Chambermaid. The Ring of the beautiful Corpse 
recognized. An Interesting Scene. A Visit to the People's Theater. 
An Affectionate Couple. 

Tpie door opened suddenly and noiselessly on my 
thoughts, and the man of the theater, the image of the 
locket, stood before me. He must have noticed a per- 
turbation in my manner, unbecoming a bookseller, for 
I was conscious of exhibiting it. 

"I have some new Physiological and Spiritual works 
here," said I, with as good grace as I could command, 
" and I called to see if you would not like to subscribe 
for them." 

Here I went on with rather a highly-colored eulogy 
of my books. " This work, ' ,' beside containing 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loyeks. 35 

a history of every diseased condition of the human 
v, contains a fund of useful and wonderful knowl- 
edge on the mysteries of Procreation." 

4% What is that P 3 said my listener, eagerly grasping 
the book and glancing over the back part of it. "I '11 
take this book," he said. "Can't you spare me this 
copy now?" he continued. "I would like very much 
to read it to-day. I don't care any thing about its being 
bound." 

"It will put me to some trouble getting another spe- 
cimen to canvass with," I replied. 

M Well, here, I will subscribe for all your other books, 
and will pay you three times your price for this — will 
that compensate you sufficiently ?" he asked — " although 

I don't care a fig about this Spiritual work of Prof. . 

I have more such books now than I shall ever read." 

It called to my mind the incident of the man from 
Honduras, who brought a cargo of Sarsaparilla to New 
York, expecting a very ready sale of it, at a large 
advance, to the Sarsaparilla Sirup and Extract manu- 
facturers, but who was set a-back not a little on being 
told by one of the Sarsaparilla princes, that they never 
used Sarsaparilla, in their Sarsaparilla Sirups, at all. 
So it occurred to me that manufacturers of Spiritualism 
were poor men to sell Spiritual books to. His counte- 
nance seemed to change after thus speaking lightly of 
Spiritual books, as though he had committed a blunder. 

%% Can't you leave me this copy of Prof. ?" he con- 
tinued ; " it may contain some new ideas on this heav- 
enly science," and he might have added, as he glanced 
over the volumes on his table, "it may help to delude 
my dupes as well as the rest of these books ; I am con- 
sidered a very apostle of Spiritualism, and the more 
show I can make the greater my influence." 



36 Lekderman's Adventures among 

I consented to his proposal, and after receiving my 
pay for the books, I asked if I should call on him again, 
if I came across any new works on the same subjects. 

" Most certainly. I am anxious to obtain all the new 
lights on Spiritualism," he replied, with a half-serious, 
half-smiling face, which said, as plain as a face could 
say, that he thought less of these works than his words 
would lead one to believe. 

I departed with a firmer resolution than ever of fol- 
lowing up this thing to its source. My object now was 
to obtain a history of this individual. How was I to 
do it ? A new Spiritual book must be found — no differ- 
ence if it is not new, it w T ill afford an excuse for call-' 
ing, and by calling, something new may turn up. The 
thought once occurred to me of openly accusing him of 
being the murderer of the drowned young lady, as I 
have frequently seen guilty parties condemn themselves 
by being thus accused at random. But then I had no 
evidence, and this heroic stroke might not only frustrate 
my plan, by putting him on his guard, but might get 
me into serious difficulty. Spiritual books ! They shall 
be the cards by which I will win the game ! Would it 
not assist my cause if I should become a Spiritualist 
myself, and thus be brought in closer connection with 
him ? But then I have assumed the character of a book- 
agent. He does not suppose me to be very rich ; this, 
no doubt, would be an effectual bar against my getting 
into his private circle. The purses of men and the 
charms of women have unquestionably more weight 
with him than any other consideration. I resolved to 
stick to the old card. 

Not three days had passed before I was at the door of 

No street again ; it was opened by the same 

female, to whom I communicated the same errand as on 



The SriKixuALisTs akd Fbee-Lo,vers, 37 

my previous visit. She said Mr. Guysot was not in. 
"I think he will be in soon, however, won't you walk 
in and wait?" 

I accepted her invitation, rather against my sense of 
fashionable propriety, I confess ; but then I thought they 
might consider me some unpolished fellow who did not 
understand city etiquette, and thus excuse me. My fair 
conductress picked up a piece of beautiful embroidery 
from the parlor sofa, and was about leaving the room, 
when I arose and said I did not wish to interfere with 
her convenience, and would call another time. She 
took the hint, and sat down on the sofa, and commenced 
working. By degrees, the formal and stereotyped 
phrases of fashionable conversation gave way to a free 
and interesting talk between us. The conversation 
naturally turned on Spiritualism and its supposed 
advocate, Mr. Guysot. I became satisfied, from her 
manner of speaking on the subject, that she, and Mr. 
Guysot, and his wife, were not such deluded devotees 
to the system as they had credit for. 

I noticed a change in her features and tone of voice 
every tim§ she spoke of Mr. or Mrs. Guysot, leading 
the observer to suspect that there was a closer relation 
existing between them than that of servant and em- 
ployer. As the conversation progressed, growing freer 
and less guarded, it became evident that her situation 
was unpleasant here, and that she desired to get out 
of it. 

Then the idea occurred to me of breaking the whole 
plot to her, and taking her in as an associate in carry- 
ing it out. I resolved on it, and broached the subject 
in this rather abrupt manner : 

"It seems that Mr. and Mrs. Guysot have done you 
some great wrong — " 



38 Lexdeeman's Adventuees ajiokg 

She started to her feet, dropped her embroidery, and 
with expanded eyes, and parted lips, and rigid arms ?< 
she stared at me for a moment in the greatest perturba- 
tion. A new thought seemed to flash across her mind — 
her features relaxed as she spoke : 

"What did I say? I was only in jest; they have 
done me no wrong," and she tried to laugh: it was that 
forced, sardonic laugh that pains the hearer by its hol- 
lowness. When she had recovered herself somewhat, 
and had sat down again on the sofa, trying to resume 
her work with trembling fingers and features rendered 
more beautiful by her spasmodic efforts to be calm, I 
again addressed her, as near as I can recollect, as fol- 
lows: 

" I understand the whole matter, and I think you and 
I are engaged in similar undertakings ; and further, I 
believe we can be of great assistance to each other." 

She again sat motionless, staring at me, drinking my 
words with fearful avidity. 

"What! are you not a bookseller " she exclaimed. 

" No," I answered. " I am trying to trace out a plot 
more mysterious and horrible than was ever written in 
a book ; a plot of real life, more strange than that of 
fiction." 

I here bethought me of the ring. Some instinct 
seemed prompting me at every step, commanding mo 
to advance, assuring me that I was right, although my 
evidence, as yet, was entirely circumstantial and insuf- 
ficient to substantiate the identity of Mr. Guysot with 
the original of the likeness of the locket. And even if 
it were sufficient, what then? I would occasionally 
ask myself. What if the drowned young lady did have 
a daguerreotype likeness of Mr. Guysot on her person ? 
Some unseen influence whispered that a fearful moral 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 39 

tragedy was connected with it, whose horrid details 
would be developed by bringing these circumstances 
together. This influence seemed to urge me onward, 
and to impress me with the conviction that it was a 
duty I owed to society to trace out the history of this 
plot and give it to the public as a warning against a 
scorpion that is secretly, but too surely, insinuating its 
poison into the very heart of society. 

I drew out my porte-monnaie, and having unclasped 
its inner partition, took thence the ring, wrapped up in 
a piece of thin paper. I undid the paper and handed 
the ring to her, pointing to the letters on the inside. 
One glance was all she gave. The ring dropped from 
her fingers as though it had been molten lead, and she 
fell to the floor. I raised her beautiful form and laid it 
gently on the sofa. 

I dashed some cold water in her face, from a pitcher 
standing on the mantle, and she soon revived. With 
blanched lips and painfully expressive look, she whis- 
pered, pointing to. the ring which still lay on the floor : 

"How came you by it ? Where is she?" 

"Compose yourself," I replied, "and when you are 
sufficiently recovered I will tell you all about it." 

I put the ring in my vest pocket, perfectly satisfied 
that it had done its duty. 

"Oh, I am recovered," said she, rising up and ar- 
ranging her hair before the mirror, which frightened her 
at first, by the pale and terrified image it reflected. 

Steps were now heard at the door, the insertion of a 
key, and the turning of a small bolt. 

"They have come," she said, in an agitated whisper. 
" Come here to-morrow evening at nine o'clock. I shall 
be alone — " and she rushed out of the parlor at the back 
door opening into the sitting-room. 
4 



40 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Footsteps passed along the hall and entered the sit- 
ting-room. In a moment Mr. Guysot entered the parlor, 
apparently in not a very pleasant mood. He bought 
one of my books, but I imagined it was to get rid of 
me more than for want of the book, suggesting, as he 
paid for it, the possibility of his being able to get what 
books he needed in future himself, at the bookstores, 
and thus prevent so great a waste of my valuable time 
in waiting on him. I took the hint most decidedly; it 
being so plain as to prevent me disposing of it in any 
other way. 

So the Spiritual Book card has played its last trump, 
thought I, as the front door closed behind me rather 
firmly. But I have another card, still more available, 
I imagine ; one that promises most certainly to decide 
the game in my favor. To-morrow evening at nine 
o'clock ! I think there is no need of noting this appoint- 
ment down. I shall not be apt to forget it. 

But how shall the time be occupied till then ? I was 
just passing the Peoples' theater. Its poster advertised 

Eichard III — Wallack ; La ; and the Fool of the 

Family. At the door, as is the fashion in these days of 
" every man his own horn-blower hung a cut of — 

Yours, etc., Wallack, Jr. 

I concluded to put the evening in here as best I could. 
Not that I cared much about Wallack, Jr., but I wanted 
to hurry up Old Time — an operation not often to be 
desired, as he generally walks too fast for the speediest 
of us. 

At seven, I found myself in the Dress Circle, with 
plenty of room ; the streets, being so slippery that night 
as to render it rather hazardous for delicate slippers to 
venture out. The audience, after waiting a long time 
impatiently for the curtain to rise, began to express said 






The Spiritualists and Free Lovers. 41 

impatience most audibly by a measured and synchro- 
nous stamp, the most ludicrous of all kinds of demon- 
strations of notice by a public audience — a kind of an 
ironical applause. Presently the stage manager, arrayed 
a la mode Richard, came before the curtain and announ- 
ced (which operation seemed rather small business for so 
great a personage as Richard III), that the godlike 
Wallack, Jr., having incurred the envy of the other 
gods by the worship he was receiving from mortals, was 
getting u particular thunder" from them. That said 
gods had hissed the elements on to this same Wallack, 
Jr., who was now contending against cold and terrific 
storms, trying to cut his way through to the City of Pork. 
For fear that the conductor of the ill-fated train, finding 
out the Jonah who was causing all this cracking of rails 
and smashing of wheels, should be tempted to throw 
said Jonah overboard (as he had a very good precedent 
for doing) the proprietor of the theater was continually 
telegraphing to him to put Wallack, Jr., through, and 
not to mind the expense. What were to have been the 
closing performances of the evening, the lighter ones, 
intended to oil over the scorched wounds of the feelings, 
caused by the burning words of Richard, were intro- 
duced first, thus giving the gods time to relent and 
permit Wallack, Jr., to appear. This serving up of the 
light plays first, reminded me of a fashion my old 
grandfather had, of eating his pudding before his meat. 
The "Fool of the Family" was done to the darkest 
kind of a brown, and crusted over. The gym-?iastic 
of it was entirely original. I think it must have 
i conceded that never before had woman kicked 
higher with less accident than the " Fool of the Family" 
did on that occasion. I heard a butcher boy, who hung 
oyer the gallery some three or four feet, express the 



42 Lenderman's Adventures among 

wish to his comrade, that he could have been on the 
stage behind the side-scenes, during this acrobatic per- 
formance. 

La "demonstrated her lower extremities" (as 

anatomists would say) to the perfect satisfaction of all 
the deckhands, butchers, and old codgers in the house. 
It was quite refreshing to see some of the greyheaded 
old goats dodging their heads round to get the highest 
peep; although there was no need of dodging, for 

La seemed perfectly aware of what was wanted of 

her, and she seemed no less willing to gratify her 
admirers by showing pretty much all the charms she 
was possessed of. I noticed that applause was given 
not when she performed any extra feat on the "fantastic 
toe," but when she whirled around so as to raise the 
vapory lawn the highest. She was called out again, but 
could not make the lawn rise any higher than before. 

After "Betty's" pudding had been disposed of, which 
Hid Zeight-on-the-stomach, and said pudding had been 
settled by the gym-nastic exercises of the angelic 

La (if substantial wrists and ankles w T ill admit of 

a winged adjective), Richard III, alias the stage- 
manager, again made his appearance before the cur- 
tain, and announced the woe4\\l intelligence that the 
elements had been too much for Wallack, Jr., and that 
it was now out of the power of mortals or immortals to 
enable said Wallack to come up to time ; but that he, 
the manager, would endeavor to personate Wallack, Jr., 
through Richard, to the best of his abilities, and so 
the war of the white and the red roses went on. 

While the first act of the tragedy was being per- 
formed, my eyes caught the glance of another eye in a 
dark and obscure part of the theater. I saw but a part 
of the face to which that eye belonged, for the most of 






The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 43 

it was covered with a neck-shawl, the upright collar of 
a circular cloak, and by a fur cap drawn down over the 
eyebrows; but I saw enough of the face to recognize it 
as belonging to iny Spiritual acquaintance, Mr. Guysot. 
lie noticed me, but by studiously keeping my eyes away 
from that part of the theater, he soon was put at ease, 
and sat closer to the female by his side. She was 
enveloped in a large cloak and hood, which very un- 
iashionably concealed her features. A vail also was 
drawn partly over her face. Once only did I see her 
face distinctly, as she raised the vail and gazed intently, 
for a moment, on a well dressed gentleman in the par- 
quette, who seemed to have passed the culminating 
point of man's physical vigor. She was not the wife 
of Mr. Guysot, that I was sure of; her face was pretty, 
very pretty, but of a different variety of beauty from 
that of Mrs. Guysot. She had a keen black eye which 
shot forth the fires of sensual passion most unmistakably. 
Her ruby lips, parted by the intensity of her gaze, dis- 
played a symmetrical set of pearly teeth ; her cheek 
was full but rather blanched — a natural consequence of 
hot-house rearing on animal as well as vegetable life. 
They appeared remarkably affectionate to one another ; 
she rested her head on his shoulder, and he tenderly 
encircled her waist with his left arm. This excess of 
u affectionaP manifestations would have been presump- 
tive evidence that they were not man and wife, in the 
absence of other testimony. Using a vulgar expression, 
they were altogether too affectionate "for safe." 

At the dropping of the curtain before the last act, 
Mr. Guysot and his fair companion left the theater, and 
I not only followed their example, but had the ill-man- 
ners to follow their route. They walked quite briskly, 



41 Lendeeman's Adventures among 

looking behind occasionally without seeming to see 
any thing unusual. After walking northwardly a few 
squares and then eastwardly, they rang the door-bell 
of a two-story frame house, sitting back from the street, 
and were admitted. 

Although the night was stormy and very disagreeable, 
I promenaded the street, backward and forward, for 
about half an hour, when the couple again made their 
appearance and walked a few squares westward till they 
came near a splendid mansion, entered from the street 
by a flight of massive stone steps. They then walked 
very cautiously on tiptoe, seeming alarmed at the ice 
crackling under their feet. Having reached the steps, 
he gave her a very affectionate embrace, and I thought, 
a kiss (judging from the close proximity of their faces), 
He went on his course, at first in the same tiptoe fashion, 
and then less cautiously with heels down as well as toes. 
She noiselessly ascended the steps, opened the door with 
a street key, and as still as a ghost, disappeared. A 
moment after, I saw an object moving in the front room 
on the second story, which was partially lighted appa- 
rently by a coal-fire. The gauze curtains and obscure 
light just enabled me to make out her form. She 
seemed to be in a hurry about changing her clothes, and 
soon, in much lighter costume, drew aside the curtains 
of a bed, and sank into its feathery billows. 

Hardly had I turned my eyes from the window, and 
directed my steps homeward, when I met the self-same 
gentleman who had attracted her attention at the theater. 
I was positive that it was he, as I rubbed close to him 
near a street-lamp which showed his face distinctly. I 
kept walking with short steps and turned head till I saw 
him enter the mansion with the massive stone steps. 



The Spiritualists and Fbeb-Lovkbs. 45 

I then went homo, pondering over the evening's develop- 
ments. My plot seemed pointing to a positive and 
definite center, and moreover involving quite an inter- 
ng group of characters in its progress. 



CHAPTER Y. 

A Revelation. History of the Spiritual Leader, Guysot, and of his 
Wife. Matilda's Story of Herself. The Society of Free-Lovers of 
Xew York ; its Wicked Doings. How Husbands were estranged 
from their Wives, and Wives seduced from their Husbands. Sad 
History of a beautiful and accomplished Lady, from a Suburban 
Village, who fell a Victim to this Infernal Clique. Story of Edward 
Lawrence and his young Wife. A double Suicide. A Victim of 
Despair. Escape of a Libertine. Causes of Self-destruction. 

Xever did I draw a bell-knob w T ith such a mis°;iv- 

CD 

ing — such a feeling of goneness about the region of the 
heart, as I experienced in drawing the bell-knob of ISo. 

street, on the next evening, at a few minutes 

past nine o'clock. The bell-knob of a creditor's door 
has its horrors ; that of a sweetheart's door has its pal- 
pitations ; but the feelings I then experienced, were 
less enviable than either. I was treading on uncertain 
ground. I felt very much, at that time, as one feels 
when he is "sticking his nose into other folks' business" 
at the no little jeopardy of said nose's u continuity of 
structure." What if Mr. Guysot should open the door 
instead of my fair acquaintance? A most decided ex- 
planation might be necessary, or a most decidedly inter- 
Qg scene might be witnessed, in which I would pcr- 
illy play a prominent part, I had not much time 
fur melancholy forebodings, however, for the door opened 
and dispelled my ibar3. My fair acquaintance was paler 



46 Lenderman ? s Adventures among 

than on the previous evening ; her countenance showed 
the effects of troublesome thought and watchfulness; 
her eyes were more languid, though they soon exhibited 
a nervous excitement indicating an unusual interest 
in something about to transpire. 

After sitting in an easy chair by the fire a few mo- 
ments, my companion occupying the sofa, and after 
much bracing myself to the task, I finally succeeded in 
broaching the subject that was uppermost in both our 
minds, in the following words, as near as may be : 

" I understood you to say, the other evening, that you 
were acquainted with the wearer of this ring?" 

" Yes," she somewhat hesitatingly replied, looking 
inquiringly in my face as she spoke. "But first tell me 
who you are, and what you know of this lady." 

"Let us be confidants in this matter," I replied, seat- 
ing myself on the sofa, and taking her soft, delicate 

hand in my own. " My name is , and I have lately 

seen this lady under very melancholy circumstances. 
Now reciprocate my confidence and you may depend, 
on the honor of a gentleman, that it shall be a confi- 
dence worthily and safely bestowed." 

She turned her half-averted head, and I noticed the 
tears trickling down her cheeks. 

"My name is Matilda De Long," she sobbed. " The 
lady who once wore that ring was Emily Lee. The 
letters on the inside of the ring are the initials of her 
uncle's name. But tell me, where is she? Though she 
was my rival — though the cause of much grief to me — 
I loved her. She was so kind, so pure. She was too 
good for this world* Tell me all. I fear the worst, for 
she disappeared suddenly,, some six or seven weeks ago, 
when Mrs. Guysot came to the city, and nothing has been 
heard of her since;" and, — hesitating, — she continued, 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Luyers. -17 

" though no inquiries have been made. Mr. Guysot 
uses every precaution not to have a word said about her ; 
for he don't want his associates to know any fhing about 
the circumstances of her disappearance. He fears, also, 
of getting into the clutches of the law, for he was mar- 
ried to both these women. To the woman Jie now lives 
with, about two years ago, in Baltimore; to the owner 
of that ring, in Philadelphia, about six months ago. 

" Mrs. Guvsot's relations in Baltimore are anions: the 
richest and most influential of that aristocratic city ; and 
Mrs. Guysot herself was considered one of the hand- 
somest and most accomplished women of the Monu- 
mental City, distinguished for its handsome women. 
She loves her husband with a true woman's love, which 
his cold-heartedness smothers but can not extinguish. 

" One day, Guysot, when he was in a very communi- 
cative mood, gave me a history of himself. I will relate 
it to you. He said he was the son of a Xew England 
farmer — a thrifty farmer; one who made farming 
profitable, by industry and economy, and by taking ad- 
vantage of all the discoveries and improvements in 
agriculture. He was one of those farmers that view 
this calling as a science as well as an art. He took 
agricultural journals, and read all the standard works 
on this subject. He kept the best kinds of horses, and 
cows, and hogs. His orchards contained the best vari- 
eties of fruit. His fences and buildings were as they 
should be, and his implements were of the most im- 
proved patterns. He had the best tools and the best 
way for every farming operation, and he had a place 
for every tool and kept every tool in its place. He had 
a time fur doing every kind of work, and a kind of 
work for every time. Farming was his business, his 
pleasure, hie delight, lie waa happy in his calling 



48 Lumberman's Adventckes among 

He brought his children up to his own profession, 
except Charles, who seemed brighter than the rest; 
Charles was his mother's favorite; he was the third 
child. Charles was favored always ; if Charles had 
any ailment — a headache, or a cold or what not — he 
need not work ; he could lie around the house, and be 
stuffed with the good things by his mother. Charles 
did not like to work, and he often feigned sickness to 
get rid of it. When Charles had quarrels w T ith his 
brothers and sisters, the mother always took his part, 
and screened him from punishment. The parents thought 
Charles would "make something;" that is, that he 
was too smart to be a farmer; so they concluded to 
make a lawyer or a doctor of him. They thought it 
would be a good idea to have one " ornament," at 
least, in the family. Charles was consequently kept at 
school from the time he was four or five years old till 
he was eighteen. By dint of coaxing, and hiring, and 
flattering, he made out to get through the village acad- 
emy at eighteen, with a smattering of the branches there 
taught; but to the perfect satisfaction of his parents, 
who supposed there was no other such boy in the coun- 
try. By his inactive life, and excesses with other fast 
young men, the " ornaments" of other families, he had 
acquired a feeble constitution. The family physician, 
an old fogy of a doctor, pronounced him "predisposed 
to consumption," and instead of recommending him to 
active out-door exercise and plain food, he said it was 
absolutely necessary to send young Charles to a warmer 
climate, which would most certainly restore him. 
Charles' mother had a cousin that was located in Bal- 
timore as a physician. An arrangement was made to 
have Charles go to Baltimore to study medicine with 
this cousin ; the thrifty New England farmer agreeing 



The Spiritualists ajstd I'kee-Loyeks. 41) 

to pay some three or four hundred dollars a year to 
defray his son's expenses, while being made a doctor, 
and eventually a professor (in the imagination of his 
parents). Charles made just such progress in medical 
attainments as all other pampered pets do under similar 
circumstances. He attended parties, and balls, and 
theaters, much more regularly than he did lectures. 
He studied the modus operandi (as he termed it) of 
brandy smashes and oyster stews, rather than that of 
calomel and ipecacuanha, and for the very good reason 
that they were more palatable subjects. He read ladies' 
books and trashy novels, much more than works on an- 
atomy and practice. By paying for his tickets punctu- 
ally, and advancing his money for his diploma, the 
college he attended made him an M. D., about three 
months after he was twenty-one. His father was now 
called on for funds to get his son into practice. He 
took an office, put his tin sign out, and was found there 
when he could find no other more attractive place. If 
his father expected to support him till he made enough 
by his practice to support himself, the indulgent old 
man might have made his calculations to support Charles 
for life. 

Soon after putting out his sign of "Dr. Guysot," he 
paid a visit to the old homestead, and saw unmistakable 
symptoms of jealousy on the part of his brothers and 
sisters ; they began to be dissatisfied w T ith their parents' 
partiality for Charles. They thought, and had of late 
expressed, that thought audibly in the hearing of their 
parents, that they were just as good as Charles, and they 
did not think it right for them to stay at home and work 
all the year to earn money to keep Charles a gentleman. 
Although the old fulks were as blinded as ever as to the 
great talents of their favorite son, and were disposed to 



50 Lendkrman's Adventcres among 

lavish money on him as freely as ever, yet the well- 
grounded complaints of the other children were becom- 
ing so frequent that a sense of justice obliged them to 
notice these complaints ; and so they told Charles that 
he must now try to do something for himself, for the other 
children were becoming much dissatisfied. 

Charles went back to Baltimore studying up some 
plan by which he might "do something for himself," a 
study which had never occupied his mind before. He 
could not think of working to accomplish this some- 
thing ; it must be brought about by some speculation or 
other; he thought of the lottery, and other kinds of 
gambling, but matrimony appeared the most feasible 
plan, for he was a young man of good common sense 
and would have made a talented and useful man, if he 
had been taught to rely more on his own exertions. 
He was about as good a man as he could have been 
with the chance he had. Before he reached Baltimore 
he resolved on hunting up some lady, young and hand- 
some of course, if possible, but some lady with 
money. Good fortune sometimes favors the undeserv- 
ing. Charles bethought him of a young lady with 
whom he had a slight acquaintance, that would do, 
Miss. Beaumont ; although he had no real love for her 
he thought she would be bearable considering she was 
an only child, and her father was worth fifty or sixty 
thousand dollars. He resolved to undertake the con- 
quest. It seemed the only chance for him. 

Charles could make himself very agreeable if he 
wished ; he had been in society enough to learn those 
little arts by which a woman's heart is captivated. 
He became a visitor at Mr. Beaumont's and won his 
daughter's affections. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, were 
not fashionable people ; they were good common sense 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 51 

people, who look more to substantial merit than to super- 
ficial acquirements; they were not long in forming an 
unfavorable opinion of Charles, and tried to dissuade 
their daughter from keeping his company. 

This rendered Charles still more determined in the 
prosecution of his suit. He resolved now that he would 
have Agnes Beaumont at all hazards. He was really 
in earnest about it. Perhaps this was the first work 
he ever was very earnest about. He used all the 
acquirements and accomplishments he was possessed 
of to gain the confidence and love of Agnes, and he 
succeeded. He felt that he was safe now r : when a man 
once gets the affections of a woman no power can rob him 
of the treasure. You may talk of the fickleness of our 
sex, but I tell you when a woman once really and truly 
loves she is not fickle, her heart is as constant as the 
magnet, pointing ever toward the object of its attraction. 
Mr. Beaumont considered it his duty to forbid Guysot 
his house. This only added fuel to the flame that 
glowed in Agnes' breast. Persecution is like the insuf- 
ficient breath to extinguish a flame, it but increases it. 
Agnes had been raised as well as sensible parents in ' easy 
circumstances' could raise an only daughter. She had a 
good substantial education. Not so much pains had been 
taken to give her those light, frivolous accomplishments 
that are gained by lessons in fashionable dancing, 
fashionable music, and fashionable society. As a con- 
sequence, Agnes had a heart ; she could feel, she could 
really love, which few fashionably raised ladies can do. 
She came to love Charles Guysot with all the fervor of 
her virgin nature. She was prepared to sacrifice every 
other endearment for him ; so that when he proposed a 
secret correspondence and secret meetings, she consented. 

Agnes loved her parents affectionately. No parents 



52 Lendekman's Adventures among 

could have wished for a more dutiful daughter. But 
the love she had for Guysot, was of that kind that bids 
us leave father and mother, how dear soever they may 
be to us, and cling to him who shall be bone of our 
bone and flesh of our flesh. 

Agnes kept her intercourse with Charles a secret from 
her parents. As would be expected, she consented to a 
clandestine marriage. When a young woman takes the 
first step of disobedience, the next is more easily taken. 
Agnes stole from her father's house one Saturday night, 
after the family had retired, and went with Charles to 
New York, where they were married. He took her to 
his father's, where she created a very favorable impres- 
sion ; for, indeed, she was a good woman — too good for 
Charles. She wrote to her parents immediately after 
her marriage, imploring their forgiveness, etc., as is 
always done under such circumstances ; the propriety 
of so doing being suggested by the author of her dis- 
obedience. At first Mr. Beaumont was not inclined to 
listen to his daughter's entreaties ; he tried to harden 
his heart against her, and disown his daughter ; but a 
mother's persuasions and tears prevailed, and the erring 
daughter was invited home with her husband, where 
they lived agreeably for a few weeks, while the novelty 
of the arrangement lasted. But this union, which was 
made, on Guysot's part, purely from pecuniary motives, 
without his heart being enlisted, soon lost its attractions 
to him. It is always so when a man marries a woman 
to get a home tojive in without labor, he soon forgets 
to appreciate the living ; he comes to consider it as 
something his wife owes him; and not unfrequently 
complains of the quality of the living. The situation 
became disagreeable to Guysot ; he neglected what little 
business he had; he was frequently, almost nightly, 



The Spiritualists and Foes-Lovers. 53 

found at the restaurant's, billiard rooms, and other such 
places of resort. Agnes and her parents could not help 
but notice this neglect, but with a true woman's self- 
denial and love, she excused the indiscretions of her 
husband, as best she could ; she treated him with the 
same affection as at first ; but when she was alone, she 
poured out her grief in ineffectual tear3. 

My adopted parents were intimate with Mr. Beau- 
mont's family. I was taken sick with a complaint 
peculiar to our sex. 

I hardly know whether I ought to go on with my 
history. It may be improper and immodest to tell you 
all; but some influence seems to give me confidence 
in you. I feel that you will not abuse my confidence. 
I have been very wicked ; I despise myself; I wish to 
reform. I want some friend to assist me ; but I will not 
deceive a friend ; I will tell you all — how lost I am. I 
shall not blame you if you reject my friendship; but if 
I am not beyond your sympathy, take pity on me, de- 
graded as I am." The tears of true penitence flowed 
freely as she spoke these words. 

I assured her of my sympathy and assistance, and 
would listen with confidential respect to whatever reve- 
lations she thought proper to make. Being thus assured, 
she went on, though with much hesitation and reluc- 
tance. 

"Through Mr. Beaumont's recommendation Guysot 
attended me. He called to see me every day, although 
it seemed unnecessary, for my complaint did not con- 
fine me to my room. lie appeared to manifest a great 
interest in my welfare; indeed, he so ingratiated him- 
self into my feelings, that I became perfectly capti- 
vated — I was his slave. But I think I never should 
have listened to his criminal proposals if he had not 



5-1 Lendekman*s Adventures among 

made them through professional advice. It is base, 
unutterably base, for any man to set himself about win- 
ning the confidence of a virtuous woman to seduce her; 
what words then can describe the baseness of the man 
w r ho can use the garb of a profession, that should be 
sacred, to destroy his innocent victim ! And yet, Guysot 
never appeared so base to me. I could not help loving 
him, notwithstanding all the injustice he did me. 

After I recovered from my difficulty, our criminal 
intercourse continued, even when there was not the 
slj^dow of an excuse for it, so deluded and lost was I. 
I blush to acknowledge that I even consented to meet 
him at assignation houses. At one of these meetings 
a clerk of Mr. Beaumont's discovered us ; he was no- 
wise friendly to Guysot, indeed he would probably have 
been the husband of Agnes if she had not met Guysot. 
We expected we should be exposed. Oh! what suffer- 
ings I endured that night; the torments of hell can be 
no more intense. The horror of my situation broke 
suddenly on my soul. Oh, what peace I had sacrificed ! 
In imagination, I saw every friend, every human being 
I met, looking on me with commiseration and contempt, 
and pointing the finger of scorn &t my guilty heart. 
How could I escape these torments ! I thought of self- 
destruction ; but then, I had been taught that to die thus, 
my condition would be still worse. I slept none all 
night ; early in the morning I received a written note — 
it was from Guysot: it read, 'Dear Matilda, I fear we 
shall be exposed. Had we not better leave this city ? 
My situation at Mr. Beaumont's is becoming very dis- 
agreeable. It is w T ith great reluctance he furnishes me 
with funds. By urgent solicitation, I have got three 
thousand dollars of him this morning. I think it is all 
I may expect to get of him. Will you accompany me 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loveks. 55 

to New York ? If so, meet me at E 's this morning at 

eleven o'clock.' I hesitated not a moment; this seemed 
my only escape. I resolved to fly ; and this attention of 
Guysot's bound me still more to him. I believed he 
really loved me more than any other being, as he often 
told me. And I still think he did at that time, before 
other circumstances and other fair ones came between 

us. I met him at E 's ; and that night, at midnight, 

he carried my trunk, containing my wardrobe, from 
the home that was dearest to me of any place on earth. 
I can not describe my feelings on leaving that home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Elliot had taken me while an infant from 
destitute parents, whom I supposed to be dead. They 
brought me up as their only child, and I believe they 
could not have loved me more if I had been their child. 
And I felt all the affection for them that a child could 
feel for its parents. Judge then what a shock it was to 
my feelings when I left that home so dear to me, and 
in such a clandestine manner, and for such a purpose. 
I never before knew what mental suffering was. I was 
a stranger to sorrow ; I felt it now with all the intensity 
of an unscathed heart. But disgrace and infamy stared 
me from behind, and I fled as from a devouring flame. 
I felt then how guilty I had been, and Oh ! how bitter 
was the punishment of that guilt! Oh, that mortals 
could know, and feel, and taste, the fruits of sin before 
they partake of it! The more enticing and fascinating 
the sin, the more excruciating its punishment. 

We took apartments in New York, at a respecta- 
ble boarding-house, as man and wife. We lived in this 
manner about six months. 

Connections, formed as ours were, however fervent at 
first, grow cooler and colder, until frigid disgust is the 
only feeling. Connections, without virtue for their bond 



56 Lendebman's Advent cues among 

of union, are of short duration. I think it impossi- 
ble for two of opposite sexes to live happily together 
long, where they are living in sin. The constant con- 
sciousness of their guilt will eventually sour and change 
the most loving natures. It sinks them in each other's 
estimation, and if it does not terminate in absolute 
hatred, it will in coldness and loathing. It was thus 
with Guysot; he grew cold and negligent, so that I 
could but notice it ; though I believe I loved him as fer- 
vently as ever. I had nothing else to love. The human 
heart must have an object to love ; if it love not a wor- 
thy object, it will love an unworthy one. 

One morning he left me saying he was going to 
Philadelphia on some business, and would be back in a 
week. I had noticed a coldness in his manner for a 
month previous, and he was absent almost every evening, 
although my simple heart would not harbor a doubt as 
to his love for me. I tried the more to please him, but 
my endeavors made no impression on his calloused 
heart. They seemed rather to produce disgust than 
respect for me. 

He had become associated, while in New York, with 
that accursed sect of Free-Lovers. At first he went to the 
meetings of this sect out of curiosity; he took me with 
him. They were not pleasant to me. Though I was 
inexperienced in the wicked associations of men, my 
simple nature told me that there was something wrong 
in this avow T ed s freedom of the affections,' my heart told 
me that woman was made to love but one of the op- 
posite sex, and that it was wicked after she had bestowed 
her affections on that one, to endeavor to transfer them 
to another. 

The few evenings that I attended their meetings, 
disgusted me with their practices. In those few even- 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 57 

ing8, I saw innocent and virtuous girls prostituted. I 
saw wives and mothers seduced by the vilest libertines. 
I could cite you to scores of such unhappy victims. 
They first were induced to attend these vile meetings out 
of curiosity. By frequently attending them, by tam- 
pering with the syren of licentiousness, they became 
fascinated. Step by step they descended the way of vice 
until they sank into the fathomless abyss of prostitu- 
tion and misery. Oh what beautiful buds and flowei'3 
of womanhood have I seen blasted in this consuming 
fire. I have seen young girls, who at first were almost 
forced into these haunts, covering their blushing faces 
at their conscious impropriety, become so degraded as 
to advertise their unchasteness in the most public man- 
ner. I have seen waives that were brought to these dens 
by their husbands, merely to gratify their curiosity, 
not intending to go the s,econd time: I have seen these 
heretofore chaste wives and affectionate mothers steal 
from their husband's home, from their lisping infants, 
to meet a debauchee at an infamous assignation house. 
I knew a beautiful young lady living in one of the 
rural villages, her family the most respectable, as to 
wealth and influence, brought to one of these meetings, 
while she was on a visit to some city acquaintances c to 
see the sights:' she had read of them, and had a curiosity 
to attend one. She was treated with the most marked 
respect, as you may very well imagine, her talents and 
beauty w T ere flattered, she was fascinated, she consented 
to attend the meetings again, with one of the leaders of the 
sect, without the knowledge of her acquaintances ; she 
delayed her visit in the city, and finally, in less than two 
months after her first going to the Free-Love meeting, 
she was an inmate of a house of ill-fame. I knew 
a young wife, her husband was the most loving and 



58 Lenderman's Adventures among 

indulgent of husbands. He was the head clerk of 
a large mercantile house, receiving a salary that 
enabled him to live in good style. He surrounded his 
wife with all the comforts that money could obtain. 
He loved her most tenderly. He married her in the 
country to get a wife with a healthy body, and a healthy 
heart. They had been married nearly two years, and 
their tidy home, rendered more dear by the little babe 
that had blessed their union, was all that an earthly 
home could be. That fatal curiosity, that induced hun- 
dreds of others to go the first time to these Free-Love 
meetings, induced Edward Lawrence to go there. He 
had laid it down as a rule, and a very good rule it 
is, never to go where he was ashamed to take his wife. 
He took her. It was a fatal visit. Her beauty ex- 
cited the passions of those brutal libertines for whose sen- 
sual gratification these meetings were established. One 
of them, an abandoned gambler, who had assumed a 
dozen of ' aliases ' in as many months, who existed by 
getting the confidence, and then robbing unwary vic- 
tims ; but who was possessed of a very agreeable person 
and manners, resolved to possess, and ruin this young 
and virtuous wife. He obtained an introduction to Law- 
rence and his wife. He was very officious in showing 
them round the apartments, avoiding those that might 
be shown to the less virtuous. He was earnest in 
explaining the doctrines of the 'society.' And so elo- 
quent was he, in setting forth its avowed principles of 
freedom, and justice, and natural religion, that the un- 
suspecting couple listened attentively and with pleasure, 
to the words of the destroyer. He made them promise 
to attend their meetings again; they did so, he was 
there to receive them and still farther ingratiated him- 
self into their confidence. He was invited to their 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loyebs. 59 

house. Ah ! little did they know what a serpent they 
were warming at their fireside. Mr. Lawrence's business 
called him from home from early in the morning, till 
late in the evening. This villain, well knowing that 
Lawrence was not in, called at mid-day to see him. He 
was invited in ; with apparent reluctance he consented 
to enter the parlor ; he inquired after the health of his 
new acquaintances. He sat and conversed alone with 

Mrs. L for a few moments with perfect propriety, 

and then took his leave. In a day or two he called 
again. He remained longer and was more animated in 
his conversation. He frequently called in the evening 
while Mr. Lawrence was in, so as to fully establish him- 
self in his confidence. His day visits at Mr. L 's 

became more frequent and more protracted ; he came 

at a certain hour. Mrs. L opened the door, instead 

of the servant girl. 

One day, a dark day, a fatal day in her history and 
her husband's history, fatal to her peace and her 
husband's peace, she cautiously stole from her happy 
home. A blush was on her cheek ; she looked down 
as she passed along the street and drew the vail closer 
over her face. As she entered a house standing back 
from the street, she cautiously and fearfully glanced 
around her, as though she feared some one were watch- 
ing her. A few moments after she entered the house 
their confidential friend followed. She was lost, — lost 
to virtue, — to honor, — to peace, forever ! 

Her assignations with this deceiver became more 
frequent. Her husband noticed a change in her 
demeanor toward him. He ascribed it to her not 
being well. He could not harbor a more unfavorable 
thought. Oh that this confidence in his wife could ever 
have remained ! A clerk in the same establishment 



60 Lenderman's Adventures among 






with himself, who was rather dissipated in his habits, 
and who envied young Lawrence his superior situation, 
which his worth had obtained for him, discovered Mrs. 

L at the assignation house in company with her 

paramour. He burned to tell the husband, and to glory 
in his discomfiture and mortification. Often had they 
talked of virtue, he maintaining that all females were 
alike inconstant, and Lawrence upholding their honor. 
He sought an opportunity to let this secret out, and 
thus wound the feelings of his best friend. Early one 
morning, and he came thus early, for the express pur- 
pose of meeting Lawrence alone, he introduced the 
subject of female virtue rather abruptly, insisting that 
there was no virtuous woman. ' I believe I have a wife 
that is virtuous,' Lawrence replied with animation. 
'What'll you bet of that?' the dissolute clerk eagerly 
asked. C I don't want you to repeat such a banter again, 
sir,' Lawrence replied with anger ; ' I don't want you 
to insult me again, sir, in that manner. I will overlook 
it this time, and I think we had better not talk on this 
subject again.' 'I know what I'm about, Lawrence: I 
was in earnest in making that banter.' Lawrence 
grasped the clerk by the throat and knocked him down. 
A couple of the other clerks coming in at this time, 
were no little astonished at finding Lawrence beating the 
prostrated man. They drew him off, inquiring, 'What 
is the matter V ' He has insulted my wife,' Lawrence 
gasped, his mouth foaming with rage. The clerk slowly 
got himself to his feet, vowing vengeance against Law- 
rence. 4 I'll show you whether I've insulted your wife ; 
I'll show every one in this house, and I'll show every 
one in the city, whether I've insulted your wife, you 
d — d cuckold, you.' Lawrence would have knocked 
the clerk down again if he had not been prevented by 



Tab Spijritualists AND FxBBrLoVEfeS. 61 

the employees of the establishment, who had collected 
to witness this unusual scene. The senior member of 
the firm came in at this time and was no less astonished 
than the rest at what he saw. 'Lawrence struck me, 5 
the clerk said, wiping the blood from his nose, ' because 
I was going to tell him something privately, of what I 
had seen of his family ; but now he shall hear of it 
from every body and from every newspaper in the city.' 
The clerk was about telling what he had hinted at, 
but the proprietor remonstrated with him and prevailed 
on Lawrence going into the counting-room and listening 
calmly to what the clerk had to say. To this arrange- 
ment the clerk was rather reluctant, for he feared 
another castigation. A deep groan was heard soon 
after from the counting-room, and the clerk rushed out 
crying 'Help ! help !' Lawrence had fallen insensible on 
the floor. The nearest physician was sent for, who soon 
restored him to consciousness, and by a powerfnl effort 
he became perfectly calm. After sitting silent a few 
moments, he approached the clerk, and taking his hand 
asked his forgiveness before all of them present, and 
then taking him aside spoke a few words to him. He 
asked of the proprietor that they might be excused a 
few hours. 

That day Lawrence saw his wife at a house of pros- 
titution in company with her seducer. That night a 
pistol report was heard in one of the by-streets, and a 
watchman hurrying to the spot, saw a man in the last 
agonies of death ; his brain spattered over the pave- 
ment. The watchman, in trying to identify the sui- 
cide, found his linen marked 'Lawrence.' The next 
morning, Lawrence's wife was found dead in her bed — 
her child drawing at her cold breast. A large vial 
labeled 'laudanum,' was lying on the floor. This 



C3 Lexderman's Adventures among 

story was related to me by a lady who had adopted 
the child of this ill-fated pair as her own. I could 
relate scores of such instances to you, where the 
young and chaste, the beautiful, the intelligent, affec- 
tionate wives and husbands have been seduced from 
the path of virtue, and plunged over the abyss of 
infamy and destruction. 

Guy sot became intimately associated with this ac- 
cursed sect of Free-Lovers — enemies to all that is pure 
and virtuous. His time was taken up wholly with their 
meetings, their plans, their heartless plots ; and I have 
reason to believe that he will have to answer at the bar 
of God for the destruction of many an innocent being. 
Whatever there was of honor in his soul was destroyed 
by his association with these emissaries of the Evil One. 

At the time Guysot left me for Philadelphia, I was 
conscious of being enceinte. The singular feelings at- 
tending this condition, still further operated to depress 
my spirits. I longed for some kind heart to support 
me in this new and trying situation. Never did days 
and nights pass so drearily. Evil forebodings haunted 
me by day — horrid dreams made me dread sleep at 
night; but the anticipation of his return was a bright 
star of hope which shed its heavenly light over my 
gloominess. I counted the days and the hours with 
miserly exactness ; and when the day arrived for his re- 
turn, it seemed the morning of a millennium. The day 
passed without bringing him. I watched all night, my 
heart palpitating at every footstep on the street. Often 
was I sure that I heard his, and rushed to the door to 
welcome him ; but he came not. And thus I watched, 
day after day, and night after night, till my wearied 
nature was sick and exhausted. 

Much has been said of 4iope deferred;' but no Ian- 



The Spirititalists and Fbee-Lovees. 63 

guage can describe that sickening of the heart, that 
utter prostration that comes over the soul, when it is 
repeatedly disappointed in some fond hope ; that giving 
up, that abandonment of every pleasurable expectation, 
that relapse and sinking of the life-spirits, as the mise- 
rable being turns, with countenance dissolved in despair, 
from the altar of the heart's hopes; and yet, the heart 
revives from this relapse, revives and revives again, 
until the despairing one is scarcely conscious of the 
pulsations of hope. Thus did I hope and hope, until 
exhausted, I would sink in despair, and then hope would 
revive again. But my spirits were wearing continu- 
ally ; each re-action was weaker and weaker ; oh, what 
misery I endured ! How often did those words ring in 
my ears : ' The way of the transgressor is hard. 5 Oh, 
that I had never sinned, to be thus seared to the very 
soul with the iron of retribution ! But it is just ! God 
has affixed punishments to all transgressions. When 
we sin we know we shall be punished. But, I have 
thought sometimes that my punishment was more than 
I deserved. May God forgive me for such thoughts, 
for I have been tortured, seemingly, to the extreme of 
human endurance. 

At the end of another week I was still watching for 
him. I could not believe that he would leave me thus, 
although I noticed whisperings among the boarders and 
smiling glances, as much as to say, ' There is something 
not right.' A few kind faces looked on me with an ex- 
pression of pity. While standing at the parlor window, 
one Sunday morning, watching the street with swollen 
and weary eyes, a gentleman passed with whom I was 
acquainted. I was aware of his having gone to Phila- 
delphia, about three weeks before, and he was now on 
his return home. The thought struck me that he might 
G 



61 Lendekman's Adventures among 

have seen Guysot in Philadelphia. I flew to the door 
and called him back — 

' Have you seen Mr. Guysot lately V I asked. He 
dropped his eyes on the pavement, marking it thought- 
lessly with his toe. He stammered, appeared confused, 
and at a loss what to say. i Why don't you speak ? 
what is the matter? tell me, quick!' 

'I have not time, now,' he replied, 4 but will send 
you a note as soon as I reach my boarding-house and 
tell you all about it. My baggage is going yonder on 
that express, and I must hasten on to attend to it.' 

With difficulty I reached my room. The awful 
truth seemed half unfolded to my view, but still I hoped. 
Woman's heart believes not the inconstancy of her lover 
till the conviction is forced upon her. I sat rocking 
spasmodically before the fire, when I heard the door-bell 
ring; it seemed the knell of my heart's death, for 
poniard could not have stopped its beatings more sud- 
denly. Footsteps ascended the stairs and stopped at 
my door; a gentle tap and the landlady entered and 
handed me a letter. She said not a word, but retired. 
With the intensest excitement of my whole being I tore 
open the envelope, and read, first the signature — it was 
from the acquaintance I had just seen. The first sen- 
tence revealed the whole : 

C I fear, Matilda, you have been deceived. I feel it 
my duty to tell you the truth. It can be no worse to 
endure than the tortures of suspense and anxiety that 
you must now suffer. I saw Mr. Guysot twelve days 
ago. I saw him married to a young lady of this city, a 
Miss Lee. The morning after, they were to start for 
Cincinnati. 

' Yours truly, 

' George.' 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loveks. 65 

I thought that I had already endured all that the 
human heart could bear ; but this was a pang keener, 
more excruciating than all. O God, may I never again 
pass through such an ordeal of mental agony I 

Two weeks from that Sunday morning I was able 
to sit up again in a bolstered rocking-chair. I had 
been insensible during the most of the intervening time. 
My brain seemed to have been paralyzed by some 
dreadful stroke. I could hardly believe but that it was 
but yesterday I had received the letter from George. I 
noticed that my waist was much smaller than before, 
and that a bandage was pinned around me ; it was with 
pain I attempted to walk. I felt calm; the furious 
storm had so shocked my whole system as to leave it in 
a dreamy, half-unconscious condition, reckless of what 
should now happen me. Affliction had done its worst. 

I recovered my strength rapidly, so that in two 
weeks I could walk out. The question now was : What 
was I to do ? I could not return to my adopted parents 
in Baltimore, although they would, no doubt, receive 
me kindly, and look over my erring ; for they loved me 
as their own child. After I had left them they adver- 
tised for me, offering every inducement and persuasion 
for me to return. The sight of their pious and parental 
faces would scorch my very soul with shame ; and the 
scorn and contempt with which I would be met by my 
former gay associates ! I could not bear the thought. 
I would rather die. The faint hope flitted before my 
mind that he might not be false — that some syren might 
have thrown her spells around him, and that he might 
yet return to me, when freed from her resistless fascina- 
tions ; so ready is woman's forgiving heart to put a 
favorable construction on the actions of him whom she 
loves; so unwilling is she to believe aught injurious to 



66 Lendkkman's Adyentubes among 

his character. I resolved to find him — to go to Cincin- 
nati. I sold some jewels and a gold watch, thus ob- 
taining about one hundred and fifty dollars. I paid my 
bill at the boarding-house, and with the balance started 
for this city. 

When I arrived here, I put up at a private board- 
ing-house ; for I sought retirement. The light talk and 
laughter of the crowd was jarring to my ear. My room 
was on the second story, fronting the most fashionable 
promenade of the city (the north side of Fourth street). 
There I sat from day to day, watching, with unwearied 
eye, through a crevice made by the blinds of my window 
being slightly ajar, the stream of human life that flowed 
unceasingly along that main artery of the Queen City. 
Many of the countenances became familiar to me from 
seeing them pass and repass so often. It would have 
been a fine situation to study the traits of human na- 
ture — its beauties, its deformities, its stimuli, its vani- 
ties, its follies — if I had been in a philosophic mood ; 
but other and dearer than philosophic investigations 
occupied my mind. 

I began to despair of seeing the object I was in 
search of. I was nearly convinced he was not in Cin- 
cinnati; but one morning, while sitting at my post, 
almost ready to give up my fruitless search, I saw him. 
I recognized him at the first glance ; I could not be de- 
ceived. He was passing slowly along, not with that 
brisk step of the business man, but with the easy step 
of a man of leisure ; and, oh ! my w r orst fears were 
realized! A beautiful lady, the wearer of that ring, 
was leaning gently on his arm, seemingly absorbed in 
the words he was speaking to her. I staggered to a 
lounge and fell on it, where I lay, in a half-crazy, half- 
insensible condition, for I know not how long, from 



The Spiuittalists and Fukk-Lovkks. 67 

which I was aroused by the landlady entering the room 
and inquiring, with an alarmed expression, 'What is 
the matter?' 

'Oh! nothing, nothing much, 5 I replied, trying to 
appear calm. 

'But there is something the matter with you,' she 
continued, and she spoke so kindly and encouragingly 
that I fell on her neck, weeping, and revealed all to her. 
She promised to assist me in every way she could. 

The next day I saw him pass again, but he was 
alone. I ran to the landlady and pointed him out to 
her from the door. She drew on a bonnet, threw a 
shawl loosely over her shoulders, and hastened after 
him. Touching him lightly on the shoulder, she told 
him there was a person, a few doors back, on the oppo- 
site side of the street, who wished to speak to him. Ho 
seemed alarmed, but followed her to my room. I shall 
not tell you \yhat happened there. Suffice it to say, I 
consented to live with him as his servant, unrecognized 
by any other relation. It was a terrible humiliation. 
But what will not woman submit to that will enable her 
to be near the object of her love ? 

Guysot tried to excuse his w T icked abandonment of 
me, although his guilty countenance showed that he 
uttered a falsehood, by saying that he met Emily at the 
society of Free-Lovers, and that she so threw around him 
the attractions of her sex, that he was seduced to im- 
proper conduct, and then she insisted on his marrying 
her to save her from infamy. I don't know whether 
I believed this or not, but I still loved Guysot, un- 
worthily as he had treated me. What other object was 
I to love ? The affections must have some object to 
twine around. I should have loved him, though he had 
treated me never so inhumanly. And oh what thoughts, 



68 Lenderman's Adventures among 

think you, occupied my mind (before taking upon myself 
this severest trial of living as a menial with the man 
who had so shamefully abandoned me, and being con- 
tinually goaded with the consciousness of another being 
the recipient of those affections, I had madly flattered my- 
self were mine) when I thought of what I had consented 
to do? The entering into that duty seemed like the enter- 
ing a tomb, cold, gloomy unnatural, full of dark forebod- 
ings and death, not of the body, but of the feelings, the 
heart, the soul, death of the glorious ethereal part of our 
nature. All day and all night was this one gloomy 
thought before my imagination. I brooded over it till 
life became a heavier burden than ever. I was several 
times on the point of going back to my adopted parents, 
so naturally does the heart revert to where we have been 
happy, believing that we can be happy there again. 
But no sooner was this pleasant anticipation in my 
mind, than the dark image of my sin would cover 
it as with a dark cloud, and then, despair would take 
possession of my soul, and more than once was I almost 
prepared for self destruction. Oh, if I could have 
believed I would go to a better world, this hand would 
have put an end to my miserable existence. While in 
one of my gloomy moods (the day was dark and gloomy 
too), a funeral procession passed my window. I saw 
the coffin through the glass side of the hearse. Oh! 
how I wished that I had been in that coffin in virtuous 
death. Those that scoff at the suicide, and think him 
silly, know not what they do. They know not of the 
unutterable, insupportable anguish, that gnaws at the 
human soul ; of the torturing crucifixion it endures; of the 
agony indescribable it suffers for days and nights con- 
tinually, until every moment is full of torture, before the 
haunted victim approaches the brink of self destruction. 






The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 69 

The human mind can get in that condition, that life is 
a burden, that every moment is full of misery ; when the 
miserable being longs for night, that he may banish for a 
few hours this vulture from his soul. Sleep is his only 
solace. He dreads the light of morning, as it is the 
harbinger of another day of suffering. I can easily con- 
ceive how a human being can get in that deplorable 
condition, as to fly to self destruction is a relief. I 
have felt the terrors of that condition, and whenever I 
read of a suicide, I pity the unfortunate victim. I can 
imagine what insupportable torment the soul must 
have endured to drive the being to this extremity. Oh, 
pity the suicide, for you may some day feel the terrors 
of his situation ! 

At the end of a week Guysot had made arrangements 
for keeping house, where we now live, 1 acting in the 
capacity of chambermaid. I found the companion of 
his walk — the young lady of the ring, his third victim — 
to be an amiable and virtuous creature, who loved her 
false husband truly, and who had not the least suspicion 
of his villainy. Guysot had received about three thou- 
sand dollars in cash from his first wife, and about five 
thousand dollars from Emily. This enabled him to 
make a fine appearance, and to introduce himself into 
what is called the c first circles of society,' that is, the 
moneyed circles." 



70 Lenderman's Adventures among 



CHAPTER VI. 






Singular and Romantic History of Emily Lee, the beautiful Corpse 
and of her Parents and Uncle. How she became the Spiritualist's 
Wife. Meeting of the Spiritualist's two Wives. Continuation of 
Matilda's Narrative. Her meeting with Guysot's first Wife ; her 
Repentance. A Spiritual Bed-chamber. Affecting Scene. Plan for 
breaking up the Orgies of the Spiritual Free-Lovers. 

"As I became acquainted with Emily I ceased to 
harbor a jealous feeling toward her. I would not have 
caused her pain for the world. I studiously avoided giv- 
ing her a hint of the past life of her husband. I loved her 
as a sister, and on her account, I resisted the frequent ad- 
vances of Guy sot to continue our criminal intercourse. 
Emily was an English girl who had been accompanying 
an invalid uncle on a tour through the United States for 
the benefit of his health. He died in New York. Emily 
was waiting for the next steamer to return home, when 
an evil star led her into the acquaintanceship of Guysot. 

One day when Emily and I were sitting alone by the 
fire, she told me her w T hole history. Her mother was 
the daughter of an English gentleman of wealth, a Mr. 
Gordon ; he had but two children, Julia and Alfred ; he 
lived in the suburbs of London, in a perfect paradise of 
a country residence. The house was not too large nor 
too small, just right for comfort, and it was hidden 
almost in its lawns of thick shrubbery. Mr. Gordon 
took great delight in horticulture and gardening. He 
studied it as a science, and the most of his time was 
occupied in attending to his large orchards, filled with 
every variety of fruit ; his greenhouse ; his gardens; in 
the reading of books and periodicals on these subjects ; 






The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 71 

in congenial meetings with fellow-amateurs. Nothing 
gave him greater pleasure than to show persons through 
his extensive and beautiful grounds. He would become 
animated and eloquent in describing the choice speci- 
mens of his brilliant collection. So ardent was he in 
his favorite pursuit, that he would not employ a gar- 
dener, even in the humblest department, unless he was 
thoroughly versed in his profession. 

He had long sought for a man as enthusiastic and 
skilled as himself for an overseer of his treasures. 
One day, a young man came through the recommenda- 
tion of an acquaintance, and applied for the situation. 
His youthful appearance produced an unfavorable first 
impression, but he came so highly recommended from one 
whom Mr. Gordon knew to be well qualified to judge, 
that he took him on trial ; his name was Leonard Lee ; 
he soon became a favorite with his employer, and well 
he might, for he was a young man of genius and talent. 
He had a good education, and he was all that a noble 
heart could make a man. He was handsome too. If 
he had possessed the trappings of wealth, his society 
would have been courted by the first of the land. But 
he was poor ! He was a diamond destined to waste its 
brilliance in the unpolished soil. Leonard became a 
favorite with all the family, and in fact, with every ono 
with whom he was acquainted. There was one who 
came to have a more than ordinary friendship for him, 
said Emily, with downcast eye. My mother loved him, 
loved him with all the fervor of a woman's heart. But 
he never encouraged this love ; he treated her with that 
respect becoming an English employee to his employer's 
family. 

He did not, or appeared not to, notice the frequent 
expressions of love which my mother could not repress. 
7 



72 Lenderman's Adventures among 

But there was a tenderness in the eye, a softness in the 
speech ; there was a blush on the cheek, an expression 
of pleasure when she w r as in his presence that he could 
not have misunderstood. She was most happy when 
she was with him, and she had frequent errands, some 
of them very trifling, that brought her to him ; and she 
lingered with him, as if unwilling to depart. At last 
he awoke to the consciousness of being loved by her ; 
but oh, what madness to think of it ! His noble soul 
would not trifle with her affections. He resolved to flee 
from her, for fear he might forget his position and abuse 
the confidence of his employer ; for fear he might dare to 
return that love. Return it ! It was returned ! His heart 
loved her already, deeply, wholly ; but dared not confess 
it. Alfred also loved Leonard, as though he had been 
his own brother. One day, as my mother ran down the 
vineyard to ask Leonard about some trifling affair, he 
told her he must bid her good-by, as he was going to 
leave that afternoon. Never before had he such a trial 
to go through. It was like reading his death warrant 
to tell her this. He said it — and the tears coursing 
down his agonized face, showed how painful this part- 
ing was. She no longer restrained her feelings, but fell 
on his neck, weeping. ' Oh don't, don't leave me,' she 
sobbed, ' you will kill me.' His arm unconsciously sup- 
ported her trembling form, and at this unfortunate mo- 
ment Mr. Gordon came directly upon them. To say 
that he was astonished, and then enraged, would faintly 
express the feelings of the full-blooded Englishman, 
whose ideas of caste were so inveterate. However 
much he respected young Lee as an intelligent horticul- 
turist, his hereditary prejudices could not allow him in 
the same social position as himself. If Leonard had 
been the most talented young man in England the 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 73 

circumstance of his belonging to the producing class 
would effectually bar him from the inner society of Mr. 
Gordon. He would have attempted personal violence 
on the young man, but my mother clasped her father's 
knees, crying, ; It is my fault, it is my fault, oh, I love 
him, Father ; I can not help it. He told me he was going 
to leave, just because I love him. Oh ! Father let him 
stay, let me love him.' ' Go to the house, you imprudent 
girl,' her father said ; taking her firmly by the arm, and 
starting her on the way. ' And. you, sir,' he said, re- 
turning, and hardly able to speak from rage, ' leave me 
immediately.' The young man tried to speak. ' Say 
not a word, here is your pay, take your things and leave 
immediately, and never let me see you on my premises.' 

When Leonard had passed the bounds of his employer 
he went into a secluded spot covered with thick foliage 
and there he gave vent to his feelings in tears ; he wept, 
his very soul w T ept with grief. When he had become 
calmed, he prayed to God to forgive him the wrong he 
had unwittingly done. While he was pleading in 
earnest prayer, his very soul flying upward through his 
heaven-directed eyes, he heard quick steps approach- 
ing. He turned, and my mother was in his arms. C I 
can not, I will not, leave you Leonard ; I would rather 
die. Let me go with you. I can not live without you. 
Come, Leonard, do let me go, we can make a living. I 
will work. Oh, what joy it will be to work with you ! 
Come, don't refuse me, dear Leonard.' He tried to 
remonstrate with her, but she would not listen. He 
was forced, as it were, to consent. And they went 
away together. They settled near a distant seaport, 
and there they were united as one flesh. Never was a 
spirit union more happy than theirs. 

He obtained a similar situation to the one he left, 



74 Lenderman's Adventures among 

and they lived happily in their neat little whitewashed 
cottage. There I was born. Fifteen years they had 
lived in this situation. My mother had written to her 
father, but he had never answered her. Once her 
brother had sent a letter inclosing fifty pounds, which 
he had been saving a long time to send to his sister. 
He wrote without his father's knowledge, for he said his 
father had threatened to drive him from his door if ever 
he spoke of his sister. I was fourteen years old. One 
day my father went to town for some tropical shrubs, 
which had just arrived for his employer, from the West 
Indies. The vessel had not yet been unloaded, and my 
father went on deck to get the shrubs. While he was 
waiting to see the mate, he heard a low moan proceeding 
from under an old sail, laid over a couple of poles. 
He approached nearer, and saw beneath the awning a 
man lying apparently in the last agonies of death. His 
lips were dry, and parched, and cracked ; his mouth 
was open, and at times his tongue would slowly pro- 
trude ; it was dry and parched as a piece of leather, 
grating as it passed over the teeth ; his teeth were 
covered with a dark crust ; his nostrils compressed, his 
eyes set. At long intervals the lids would slowly move. 
His cheeks were sunken and of a ghastly yellow 
color ; his brow suffused with a cold clammy sweat, as 
were his arms and hands, which would twitch frequently 
and pick at the dirty counterpane that covered him. 
The man breathed heavily through his mouth, often 
snoring ; once in a while he would start, and his dim 
eyes would look around with an intelligent expression. 
At one of these startings he fixed his eyes on my father. 
He gazed intently, and tried to speak ; but a faint move- 
ment of his dry tongue and throat, and a stronger breath 
than usual, was all that he could do; and his eyes 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 75 

became set again. As my father stood there, the 
captain approached him and with a gentle touch on 
the shoulder said : * That man is pretty sick, sir ; we 
would like to get some one to take care of him. We 
all are so busy unloading and loading our ship, that 
we shall have no time to attend to him. Have you not 
a house, sir, and a family V ' Yes,' my father replied. 
fc Would you not like to take him ? j r ou will be well paid 
for it, for that man is a rich West India planter, and he 
has thousands of pounds with him. I shall deposit his 
money w r ith a public officer here, and he will be author- 
ized to pay well for taking care of the man, if he should 
die; but if he lives, you will make your fortune, I 
assure you ; for he is noted for his benevolence, and he 
has no heirs, so that who knows but he might make 
you his heir, if you should save his life.' The captain 
led my father away from the man, as he talked. He 
appeared very anxious to get the sick man off his hands. 
My father said, c he would ask his wife when he went 
home, and if she consented, he would return with a 
suitable conveyance and get the man ; but in the mean- 
time, if the captain could get another person to take 
care of him he would much prefer it.' Toward evening 
my father had nearly reached home with the invalid 
in an easy springed wagon filled with straw, and a 
feather bed, and comforts, and the baggage of the 
stranger, w T hen it occurred to my father that, in the 
hurry and excitement of getting the man off, he had 
forgotten to ask his name. He had not much chance 
to inquire of the ship's crew, however ; they shunned 
the sick man and my father, as they would a pestilence. 
Cool, fresh air, a clean room, fresh water, suitable 
nourishment and good nursing worked wonderful effects 
on the sick man ; so that on the second evening he fell 



76 Lenderman's Adventures among 

into a sound sleep, and a warm moisture broke out 
over his whole body, and his tongue and lips became 
moist. He had not spoken as yet, nor shown signs of 
intelligence as to his situation. Having been kept 
awake the night before, we all slept soundly that night. 
The sun had risen before we awoke, when my father 
jumped up alarmed, that we had neglected the sick man 
thus. With a trembling heart he opened the door 
where the stranger lay, fearing to find him dead. But 
oh! what an agreeable surprise awaited him, as the 
stranger's eye met his and ours ; for we all stood behind 
our father, anxious to know the result. I could not 
have believed that one short night could have wrought 
such a change in the human countenance ; we could 
scarcely believe that the breathing corpse of the previous 
evening lay before us an intelligent being. His eye 
met my mothers ; it dilated, he gazed on her with the 
most singular expression I ever beheld. I never shall 
forget that look of the stranger as he beheld my mother. 
His lips moved, and ' Julia 5 faintly proceeded from them. 
c Oh Alfred, my brother! my brother!' and my mother 
fell in a paroxysm of joy at his bed-side, her face weep- 
ing in his libsom. I will not attempt to describe the 
scene that quickly followed ; — of the joy we all felt at so 
miraculous a meeting. He was soon able to tell us his 
history for the last fifteen years. He was persuaded by 
his father to go to the West Indies three years after my 
< mother left, to banish from his mind the thoughts of 
his persecuted sister; for he was continually bringing 
her to his father's notice. He could not help it, for his 
thoughts were ever on her. He was successful in busi- 
ness in the West Indies ; he accumulated property, and 
beside, about six months previously he had married the 
sole heiress of a rich sugar planter. They had not been 



TlIE SpiliITL r ALIST8 ANI> FftEE-LoVKRS. 77 

married but four months when the yellow fever broke 
out, and his young wife, to whom he was devotedly 
attached, fell a victim, and he came near dying also. 
As soon as he was able to be moved, he was carried to 
a ship, being resolved to flee the country, and if he lived 
to go back to England, spend the rest of his days in 
the society of his sister, for he was now willing to bo 
disinherited by his father to enjoy the cherished society 
of his beloved sister. 

He improved somewhat on the sea; but just before 
the ship arrived in England, he took a relapse, in which 
condition my father found him. He recovered rapidly. 
But alas ! I must tell you, though it opens those cruel 
wounds by which my young heart was torn — my parents 
took that fatal fever from my uncle. Need I tell you 
of the long hours of suffering they endured, those hours 
of bitter agony! I will spare you this sad recital. 
They died — and here Emily sobbed as though her very 
heart would break, at a recollection so painful. They 
were buried. My uncle was fully conscious of being 
the cause of their death ; the thought tormented him 
day and night. He would start up in his sleep and 
scream, C I did not kill them ; no, no no ; I did not kill 
them:' his face would be bathed in big drops of agony ; 
and then he would sink exhausted from the terrible 
excitement. His physician began to despair of his re- 
covery. He gave it as his opinion, that unless my 
uncle's mind could be diverted from this torturing 
thought he would become entirely deranged. It was 
proposed to send word to his father, hoping that his 
father's presence might have a beneficial influence. My 
grandfather had not as yet heard of his son's arrival, 
nor of his daughter's death. Just as a messenger was 
being sent on this errand, a letter arrived for my uncle, 



73 Lenderman*s Adventures among 

which contained intelligence in reference to his affairs 
in Jamaica, that determined him to go there imme- 
diately. He departed on- the next steamer; I accom- 
panied him. We remained in Jamaica three years. 
His health continued poor: his physicians advised him 
to go to the United States. Accordingly he arranged 
his business and departed. We spent a year traveling 
in Mexico and in this country. But my uncle continued 
very feeble. The one gloomy thought, of being the 
cause of his sister's death, — of making me an orphan, 
ever haunted him. He never could forget it. It wore 
on him continually. He had received several letters 
from his father, exhorting him to return home and bring 
his orphaned grandchild. Self crimination seized the 
conscience of my grandfather, when he heard of the 
death of my parents. The cruelty of his treatment to 
my mother flashed on his mind then with all its bitter 
accusations. He frequently said, in his letters, Oh, 
could I have seen my cruelty, before it was too late to 
atone for it ! I would give all my earthly possessions, if 
I could spend one hour with my dear Julia in imploring 
her forgiveness ! but I can not, I can not. I must drag 
this chain of misery to my grave. Ay, and beyond the 
grave. I feel that I shall suffer for such unnatural 
treatment of my child forever — -forever. 

We were waiting in New York for a steamer to go to 
Liverpool, on our way to my grandfather's ; for my uncle 
had resolved to go there to die. A fixed melancholy 
had settled down on him, and he frequently spoke of 
his death being near at hand, with the calmness of a 
traveler speaking of the end of his journey. While we 
were at New York my uncle was taken worse. Acci- 
dent threw Mr. Guysot in our society, and my uncle 
employed him as his physician. He was very attentive. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 79 

His visits were always agreeable, lie seemed to manifest 
such an interest in our welfare. I told him my whole 
history, and he appeared to sympathize deeply with mo 
in my affliction; offering to do any thing in his power 
to assist and comfort me. My uncle improved some- 
what under his treatment. But one evening, soon after 
taking a dose of a new kind of medicine, he sud- 
denly grew worse, and continued to sink ; he died before 
morning. If my condition was lonely before, how ut- 
terly desolate was I now ; deprived of my only object 
of affection on earth. Mr. Guysot, or 'Doctor' Guysot, 
.as we usually called him, paid me the most marked 
attention after my uncle's death. He called on me fre- 
quently, and comforted me all he could. He seemed the 
only friend I had left. No wonder then, when he offer- 
ed to become my friend and protector for life, that 
I did not refuse his offer. I gave up my plan of going 
to my grandfather's, for a while, and we concluded, at 
Mr, Guysot's request, to live for the present in Cincin- 
nati. He said that he had associations in New York, 
that he wished to break away from, when he married ; 
for he wished to have but one object on which to place 
his affections." Matilda, with a moisture suffusing her 
eyes, here said, that she never underwent such a struggle 
to suppress her feelings, as when Emily was thus inno- 
cently stabbing her very soul. " But there is one thing," 
continued Emily, after hesitating a moment; "but you 
must never hint a word of it to a living being, if I tell 
you:" I promised her I would not. "My uncle willed 
me all his property before he died. I have the will in 
my possession. I have not told my husband of this, for 
I did not wish him to think I was rich. I did not wish 
him to marry me unless he could love me without 
riches." And here she ended her history, "our con- 



80 Lenderman's Adventures among 

versation turning on other topics. Emily said that she 
thus made a confidant of me, because I seemed like a 
sister to her. She said she really loved me, and I know 
that she never spoke an untruth. Oh ! Emily was a 
being too good for this vile world. I felt that I was in 
the presence of a superior being when with her. Nothing 
but purity ever found harbor in her chaste breast. She 
was all that a virtuous w^man could be on earth. There 
are beings, though but seldom met with, who seem to 
be advanced beyond this existence, seeming to have 
commenced their immortality on earth. "We love them 
with a holy reverence, conscious of their superiority. 
Such & love I had for Emily. Many a night have I laid 
in my sleepless bed thinking of her, of our singular 
and untruthful way of living, asking myself if I were 
doing right in thus keeping her ignorant of the decep- 
tive peace in which she slumbered. But I would not 
pain her ; I would not crush her dearest hopes. I would 
not torture her sensitive soul ; and so I let her alone 
in her blissful dreams. How suddenly and how fright- 
fully was she awakened ! How scathing w r as that soul- 
piercing bolt that shattered her spirit, as relentlessly 
as the shock of Heaven destroys its doomed victim. 
I knew her spirit could not survive such a shock. 
Death! death would have been a relief. She would 
have invoked Death to spare her this agony, this tor- 
ture of the spirit, whose intensity can not be measured 
by bodily suffering ! I can faintly imagine how her 
feeling soul was pierced, when she saw how she had 
been deceived. Oh, God, have pity on her! Receive 
her to thee, where her angelic nature can find its fitting 
and eternal home ! 

After sitting in silence a moment Matilda continued : 
"Our house has become the rendezvous of a society 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 81 

of Spiritual Free-Lovers, or more properly, Infernal 
Free-Lovers. I blush to think of the scenes of violated 
virtue, of conjugal infidelity, that I have witnessed 
during the short period these enemies of chastity have 
congregated here. I have sometimes thought it my 
duty to make these disgraceful scenes public, and thus 
break up such infernal orgies ; but I lack the resolu- 
tion. I need some stouter heart than mine to support 
me in such an undertaking." (The cathedral bell is 
just striking half past ten, and I must hasten on with 
my story, for I am burning with anxiety to learn the 
fate of my dear Emily, which you must tell me in return 
for the truthful confession I am now making.) 

"I will tell you all," I replied, with a heavy heart; 
"but go on and let me hear the rest of this strange 
history." 

"Sometime in the commencement of winter," she 
continued, "Mr. Guysot and Emily went to hear the 
English opera troupe in the 'Bohemian Girl.' Return- 
ing home, while passing the brilliant window of a drug- 
store on street, a female who had been following 

them from the theater, fell on Guysot's neck and 
shrieked, 'My husband! my husband!' 

; Is she mad ? She frightens me ! Who is she ? Do yon 
know her?' asked Emily, in quick and agitated accents. 

4 Mad ! no, I am not mad ! He is my husband, and 
you, cruel woman, have stolen him from me. Speak, 
Charles, and tell her that you are my husband ! Tell 
her to leave us and torment this broken heart no more !' 

He spoke not. but stood like an inanimate thing while 
the strange female still hung on his neck. Emily, pale, 
speechless, racked in mental agony, stood like a marble 
statue, transfixed to the spot. The fetal troth seemed 
bursting on her heretofore unsuspicious soul. Sum- 



82 Lenderman's Adventures among 

moning all her fortitude to the trying task, with horror 
and despair depicted in her countenance, she stammered 
forth, directing her penetrating gaze on Guysot, ' Speaks 
she the truth ?' 

'Tell her, Charles, tell her, dear husband, 5 quickly 
cried the mysterious female. 

' She does,' he slowly answered. 

This was enough. Poor Emily staggered forward 
and would have fallen, had she not been caught by one 
of the bystanders (for quite a group had collected around 
the party). Emily was carried into the drugstore, where, 
by the application of the proper stimuli, she revived. 
Guysot and the female whom he had just acknowledged 
as his wife (Mrs. G., with whom he is now living), left, 
promising to be back in a few minutes with a carriage. 
He took her to the hotel where she was stopping, and 
undoubtedly made some arrangement with her to hush 
up the matter, without having it become public, and then 
hastened back with a carriage for Emily. The druggist 
told him that he had scarcely left the store when Emily 
arose, and adjusted her garments, saying that she was 
quite well and able to go. She thanked her attendants 
and went out. They said she appeared perfectly calm, 
and walked with a firm step down Main street toward 
the river. 

A dark thought struck Guysot as he heard ; toward 
the river. 5 He started with a shudder — he flew from 
the store and ran to the levee ; but saw nothing of the 
object of his search. Even Ms heart then felt the pangs 
of remorse, which whispered to his soul, c Thou art her 
murderer!' He came home — she was not here. He 
told me what had happened, and told me his fears, that 
she would kill herself or expose him, hardly knowing 
which to dread most. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 83 

I retired to my room, though not to sleep. The in- 
nocent and beautiful Emily haunted my mind that night. 
I almost blamed myself that I had concealed the char- 
acter of her false husband from her. I heard Guysot 
walking the room at intervals during the night. lie 
would go out on the street occasionally, and be gone 
for hall* an hour at a time. Once he was gone over 
two hours. He must have endured the torments of hell 
that night: for what hell can be worse than the tortures 
of self-crimination ? It is a hell that admits of no escape. 
It is a hell that one carries in his own bosom. 

Day after day passed without bringing any tidings of 
Emily. Guysot finally concluded, or tried to make him- 
self believe, that Emily had returned to England. The 
jewelry that she wore would afford abundant means to 
pay her passage. In two or three weeks after the dis- 
appearance of Emily, he brought his first wife here, and 
matters have gone on as agreeably as could have been 
expected under such unnatural and wicked circum- 
stances. Guysot trumped up a story about his being led 
astray by the fair Emily, which his credulous wife, 
woman-like, believes. And he seems rather well satis- 
fied that affairs have taken so favorable a turn, thus 
screening him from public indignation, or even from 
the prison's bars. 

You may well believe that it was mortifying to me 
to meet Guy sot's first wife. I would have sunk from 
her presence in utter humiliation. I could not rest till 
I found an opportunity to fall at her feet, and in tears 
and honest contrition of heart, beg her forgiveness. Oh ! 
that open confession, that laying out of my heart before 
her, that torrent of tears were a relief to me, and still 
greater — her frank and full forgiveness. Ay, and her 
blessing on my wicked and undeserving head. What 



84 Lenderman's Adventures among 

a shrine of love is a true woman's breast ! How next 
to our Saviour's is its forgiving spirit. I felt relieved. 
I thanked her in a paroxysm of joy. If the punishment 
of my sins had been great, the joy I experienced from 
her forgiveness seemed to cancel it all. Oh ! had I 
known before I sinned, of sin's bitter consequences ; of 
the injury irreparable I should inflict on a noble woman, 
I never had sinned. Mrs. Guysot told me that she had 
by accident learned her husband was in New York. 
She resolved to go there, although her friends tried in 
every way to prevent her. She learned at our boarding- 
house that Guysot had gone to Cincinnati. She came 
here, not hesitating a moment to think of consequences, 
so blind is woman to all consequences when in the pur- 
suit of the object of her love. "What a powerful all-ab- 
sorbing, holy love is hers ! Oh ! how cruel to trifle 
with that love ; woman is all love, it is her province, 
her being, her hope, her soul ; when she bestows this, 
she gives her all. 

Mrs. Guysot is surrounded here with unpleasant cir- 
cumstances, but she endures all, for she is with her 
husband. 

I have become disgusted with this way of living, and 
am anxious to abandon it. But my conscience tells me 
I have a duty to perform first. To the orgies of these 
Spiritual Free-Lovers, who profess to meet here for holy 
purposes, come beautiful, and as yet, virtuous females, 
who are doomed to be the victims of these human mon- 
sters, congregated here as serpents to sunny places, to 
fascinate and destroy their prey. It seems my duty to 
warn these innocent beings of the cruel fate impending 
over them. And, although it will bring the indigna- 
tion of the whole den of serpents upon my head, and 
particularly of Guysot, I am resolved to do it. My love 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 85 

for him has become changed to pity. I can not hate 
him, although sometimes when I see him trifling with 
virtue, it raises a momentary indignation in my breast, 
that so intelligent a man should thus prostitute himself to 
the baser parts of his nature, knowing that he is violat- 
ing the laws of his being and of his God. For his own 
good, that he may have no more crimes to answer for 
than he now has, and for the salvation of the members 
of my own sex, I consider it my duty to expose this 
wicked thing. I have become calm and resigned to my 
fate. I have resolved to return as the prodigal and fall 
at the feet of my parents and ask their forgiveness, and 
ever after, so long as life lasts, will I be their faithful 
daughter. But I need help in this task. I fear my 
weakness. Will you help me ?" 

" Yes," I answered, "with all my heart." 
"Come, then," she said, "next Saturday evening. 
The c Circle ' meets here on that evening. I will conceal 
you in this bedroom," which she showed me by swing- 
ing a huge mirror on its hinges, like a door, opening 
into the bedroom. The room was voluptuously fur- 
nished with soft lounges, tete-a-tetes, and mirrors ex- 
tending from the floor to the ceiling. The windows 
were shaded with embroidered hangings, and the floor 
was covered with the softest of Brussels' carpet. The 
walls were hung with splendid paintings of Eves, Ve- 
nuses, Bacchuses, and the like, entirely nude. A lux- 
urious bed occupied the farther corner of the room. Its 
full and spotless purity, like some dazzling snow-bank, 
glowed with its brilliant whiteness. The edges of the 
sheets and pillow-slips were elaborately embroidered. 
The air of the room was redolent with perfumes. Four 
doors opened into the room: the mirror from the front; 
a door from the sitting-room ; a door at the foot of the 



86 Lenderman ? s Adventures among 

bed, leading to a charming little batli-rooin ; and a door 
opening from the outside, from the walk running around 
the house. 

"You observe this is a splendid-room," my com- 
panion remarked. 

"It is grand enough for the bridal chamber of a 
princess." 

"It is a bridal chamber — a "bridal chamber of vice. 
It is a death chamber — the death chamber of virtue ! 
That spotless couch will continue to be the altar and 
tomb of immolated virtue, until some fearless hand 
draws aside the vail of enchantment, which throws its 
deceptive colorings around it, and exposes the frightful 
horrors hidden and rankling there in all the virulence 
of envenomed vice. 

"On Saturday evening, at nine o'clock," she contin- 
ued, "you enter cautiously at this door from the walk. 
The door will be unlocked. Bolt it after you, and stand 
behind this curtain covering the window. The mirror- 
door will be slightly ajar, so that you can see and hear 
all that is passing within the parlor." 

The clock striking twelve seemed to alarm her, 
probably from fear of Mr. and Mrs. Guysot's return. 
We went to the parlor, and I was about taking my leave, 
when she grasped my hand, exclaiming, "Where is 
Emily ?" — I could not answer. — I pointed upward. — It 
was enough — she read it all. — Pale and staggering she 
fell on my bosom. I supported her swooning form and 
bore it again to the sofa. The thought of being discov- 
ered in this situation seemed to revive her, and to give 
almost superhuman control over her feelings. She 
whispered to me, "Tell me how she died." 

" I assisted in holding an inquest over her body, taken 
from the Mississippi at , about four weeks ago." 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 87 

"Oh, my God ! my God !" she screamed, raving like 
a maniac, till I began to fear troublesome consequences. 
I calmed her as much as possible, and suggested the 
propriety of her retiring to her room, as her emotions 
would most unquestionably be noticed by Mr. and Mrs. 
Guysot, and might give rise to unpleasant inquiries. 

"Thank you, thank you! You are right. I will do 
as you say," she said, in a somewhat composed manner. 

" Good night," said I, taking her trembling hand ; 
" I will see you on Saturday evening." 

I left the house, and wandered home with more sin- 
gular thoughts than ever. I had finally traced this 
mystery out. But what now was to be done? what 
shall be made of it ? I repeatedly asked myself the ques- 
tion, What course is it proper for me to take in this 
matter ? Shall I expose this villain ? have him arrested, 
and suffer the penalties of the law, or shall I merely 
give him and his infernal clique warning to cease their 
lascivious rites, and unfold to their fascinated victims, 
who now stand on the brink of destruction, the abyss of 
misery that lies at their feet? Or shall I do both, and 
not only that, but make the plot as public as possible, 
that society at large may be put on its guard against 
this vile worm of Free-Love that is rankling in its very 
heart? The woman! the woman! thought I, she will 
take the right course, no doubt ; she will follow the im- 
pulse of her feelings. Her exposition of this secret and 
dangerous system of prostitution will be more vivid and 
effectual than any thing I can say. 

I looked forward with no little anxiety to the adven- 
ture of the next Saturday evening. Indeed, that ad- 
venture might prove a serious matter to me, for if I 
should be drawn into an open rupture with these pol- 
ished villains ; their polished manners might give way 
8 



88 Lekderman's Adventures among 

to their unrestrained passions, and my mouth might be 
silenced with a polished instrument, in a manner alto- 
gether too summary and effectual to suit my taste at 
this early stage of life. There was a fair prospect of 
my " paying dearly for my whistle.' 5 The idea occurred 
to me of having a few members of the police near at 
hand in case of need ; but then, might not these same 
policemen do me more damage than good? When they 
find out that I am the poor, weak party, and these liber- 
tines, the rich and powerful party, will they not take me 
to jail and let them go free ? Had I any reason to ex- 
pect any different course from four-fifths of these "gen- 
tlemen of the club ?" I finally concluded to trust to the 
penetrating eloquence of a revolver and bowie-knife, 
in case of physical argument being necessary. 



CHAPTER VII. 

A Spiritual Circle. A " Speaking Medium." Description and History 

of the Members of the " Circle." The Rev. M. Falleau. Mrs. M 

the Medium. The Widow Peabody. Landor. Miss B , The 

Pork Merchant's Wife. Mrs. N- , etc. How Landor induced 

Miss B (a beautiful young lady) to attend these Meetings. 

Spiritual Wine. A Spiritual Dance. Rescue from Infamy. The 
Dance suddenly stopped. Dancers in Trouble. A Spiritual Leader 
Exposed. Matilda and Guysot. Terrible Scene. Death of the 
Leader. The Widow's Grief. 

Saturday night, at nine o'clock, found me behind the 
curtain of the window in the luxurious bedroom, the 
mirror-door slightly ajar, as previously arranged, so 
that I could see and hear pretty much all that passed 
within the parlor. The company had nearly all 
arrived and was occupied in familiar little ''chit- 
chats 55 on the spring-sofas, lounges, and easy-chairs 



The Spiritualists and Feee-Loveus. 89 

around the room. Mr. Guysot had just brought in a 
basket of champagne, accompanied by my fair com- 
panion with a server full of rather large wine-glasses. 
All the company drank. Some of the young ladies 
were reluctant about emptying their glasses, but they 
were urged until the task was accomplished. Next, a 
spiritual sister — a " speaking medium " — was called 
on for a communication. She stood behind the table, 
and after a few spasmodic twitches of the arms and 
hands, her eyelids closed. She stood a moment, then 
passing her hand across her forehead, she commenced 
with the same stereotyped " rigmarole" that we hear at 
all spiritual meetings. Her communication, however, 
was rather more interesting to the audience then present, 
than most of the communications we hear in public. 
The spirit that spoke through her (Byron's, I should 
judge from the tenor of the discourse) seemed to have 
an eye to the desires of the persons there assembled, 
and appeared perfectly willing to gratify those desires. 
The absurdities and vicious tendencies of the present 
marriage system, and the beauties and perfections of the 
Free-Love improvements were the themes of the com- 
munication. 

At this moment my attention was arrested by some 
one entering the bedroom. The steps came cautiously 
and noiselessly toward the window. The curtain raised 
from behind ; I felt myself in rather an uncertain situ- 
ation, but on turning round, I saw it was all right — it 
was the bearer of the wine-glasses, Matilda. She 
whispered to me, standing by my side behind the cur- 
tain : u That lady speaking, is Mrs. Moredock, three 
months a widow. That gentleman sitting near her, 
with the sandy whiskers and moustaches and long 
flowing hair, a little bald, is Mr. Selon, her free-lover, 






90 Lenderman's Adventures among 

who seems to exercise all the freedom with her that a 
husband should. The lady becomes so exhausted 
nearly every night of their meetings, that it requires 
his constant attention till a late hour in the night to 
restore the equilibrium of her mind. That sharp- 
featured, hawk-eyed, squarechinned lady with the 
ringlets, having such remarkably red cheeks for cheeks 
so withered, sitting near the slender, pale-faced gentle- 
man with blue eyes and black curly hair, is the widow 
Peabody, mother of nine children by two husbands ; 
one of whom is deceased, and the other, she says, is 
divorced. She has scattered her nine children around 
the country so as not to interfere with the electricity of 
her 'passional attractions.' See, with what ghastly 
smiles and mawkish sensibility she endeavors to make 
herself agreeable to the gentleman by her side ! She 
deceives herself with the idea that she appears young 
and charming. How disgusting to see age put on the 
airs of youth ! 

"That gentleman to the right, so splendidly dressed, 
is the rich Mr. Landor ; he married an accomplished and 
amiable Kentucky lady, with whom he received a hun- 
dred thousand dollars. He does not bring her to these 
meetings, .for his 'passional attraction' has attached 
itself to another object — to that beautiful young lady 
sitting by him, Miss Henriette Brandon, the daughter 

of a wealthy planter near , Louisiana. She is 

attending a young ladies' seminary in this city. Lan- 
dor first saw her at an examination of this institution, 
when all the young ladies were arrayed in their most 
attractive apparel, of body and mind, to produce a 
favorable impression on the public, as to the superiority 
of this particular institution over all others, for de- 
veloping the female mind. Henriette was dressed 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 91 

very plainly, and she took an humble part in the 
exhibition; she merely sang 'Sweet Home;' but she 
sang that so well, so naturally, seeming to pour out her 
whole soul in those simple words, and her bearing was 
so modest and lady-like, and she was so supremely 
beautiful, passing all comparison with her schoolmates, 
and to crown all she was so unconscious of her bewitch- 
ing power, that she fairly captivated every heart. 
There were busy inquiries, that evening, through that 
vast audience of delighted faces, 'Who is that young lady 
in plain white, with the simple white rose in her hair?' 
Landor found out her name and set himself about 
devising a plan to become introduced to her. By ill 
fortune, he found out an acquaintanceship had once 
existed between their parents : with this excuse, ho 
sought and obtained an introduction, and so artfully 
did he throw his wiles around her innocent and inex- 
perienced heart, that he perfectly won her confidence. 
He called for her frequently with his carriage, to give 
her a ride, taking the precaution to have a plainly 
dressed female with him, whom he introduced as 'sister 
Pierson, member of 'our church.' By taking Henriette's 
teachers occasionally along, he had no difficulty in 
getting the unsuspecting victim to accompany him to 
the different places of attraction in and about the city. 
She finally accompanied him alone to the meetings of 
the Spiritualists. Landor, professing to be an enthusi- 
astic believer in their doctrines, used all his powers of 
persuasion to make her a convert to this system of 
delusion ; and has partially succeeded. She steals out 
from her room at night, and secretly accompanies Lan- 
dor to these accursed meetings. You can notice how 
strong is his 'passional attraction' for her by the ardor 
with which he gazes on her beautiful face and on her 



92 Lenderman's Adventures among 

swelling bosom. It seems to be with an effort that he 
prevents his passional feelings from pressing her to his 
bosom. She is a beautiful being, is she not? She is 
yet pure, but is fast imbibing that poison flowing from 
the eloquent lips of her seducer, which will lull virtue 
to sleep, and then the citadel of chastity will fall an 
easy prey to the enemy who watches, with gloating and 
eager eye, the favorable opportunity. See how she 
drinks in the smooth-flowing and seductive words of the 
medium, perfectly fascinated with the fatal influence of 
Spiritualism, whose heavenly robes conceal beneath 
their folds the demon of Libertinism ! The speaker is 
repeating that dangerous doctrine of Free-Love, i Your 
affections should be free to be bestowed on whomsoever 
you will. 5 ' It is your duty not to resist the dictates of 
your nature. Give way to your desires and enjoy to 
the fullest the pleasures of your passional feelings — 
those ecstatic pleasures, that consummation of earthly 
bliss !' See the soft relaxation passing over the features 
of the fascinated fair one, as she sinks into that dreamy 
state, insensible to virtue ! She leans on the breast of 
her destroyer ; she seems entirely in his power. 

"Do you see that gentleman and lady sitting in the 
farcher corner of the room, partially concealed by the 
window curtain — being behind the rest of the company ? 
They are unnoticed. That gentleman is the Eev. Mr. 

Falleau; that lady is Mrs. C , the wife of a rich 

pork merchant. Mr. C was a widower; Mrs. 

C was the dashing Miss M ; she married 

C (who is twenty years her senior) that she might 

continue to live a dashing life, for there was a rumor, 
and pretty well founded, that her dashing was about to 
dash her father over the precipice of bankruptcy. She 
and her husband are both members of the Eev. Mr. 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 93 

Falleau's church. You observe that the couple are 
very good -looking, and appear to have a very strong 
' passional attraction' for one another. Do you notice 
his arm around her slender waist and her head care- 
lessly resting on his shoulder? See with what fond 
pressure he draws her to his bosom ! She needs no 
poisoned nectar from the lips of the enchantress to 
throw her into the power of him who embraces her ; 
her affections and person belong wholly to him already. 
Many are the times they have occupied this room 
together. Her husband is now in New York, absorbed 
in visions of hams, mess-pork and lard, while she, as 
you perceive, is more Spiritually engaged." 

"Who is that lady Guysot is whispering with so 
intently ?" I inquired (observing it was the same face I 
had seen in the hood at the theater). 

" That is Mrs. M , a broker's wife," she replied. 

"She was the celebrated coquette, MissB , of Balti- 
more, who created such a sensation at Saratoga every 
season. She received a large legacy from her grand- 
father. Her husband is also very rich, but altogether 
too far along in years to reciprocate her strong ' pas- 
sional attractions.' His soul is entirely absorbed in 
dollars and cents, and stocks of various kinds. His 
union with her was purely a 'commercial transaction,' 
' a good investment,' ' a paying thing,' as he would style 
it. If there be any part of his soul not metallic, it is 
sensual. Having become middle-aged before marrying, 
he contracted those habits of sensual gratification that 
'bachelors of the world,' in easy circumstances, are so 
apt to contract. Marriage did not eradicate that taste 
for 'variety,' which had become so inveterate with him ; 
and his young wife soon became aware of it. She did 
not seem to take it much to heart, but made up her 



94 Lenderman's Adventures among 

mind to enjoy herself in the same way. I have strong 
reasons for believing that Guysot is a favorite of hers. 

The most of the company are advocates and disciples 
of the Free-Love philosophy, and are here for its prac- 
tical application and enjoyment. But I do pity that 
gentle being about to be ruined temporally and eternally; 
removed from home, with no mother to watch over her 
and keep her feet in the paths of virtue. Her ruin will bo 
accomplished to-night unless we snatch her from the 
meshes of the destroyer, which now so beset the gentle 
victim that she will scarcely make an effort at resist- 
ance. What do you say ? will you help me to save her ? 
And let us not only break up their plans for to-night, 
but let us unmask this vile conspiracy and show its 
hideous features to the public, that no more victims 
may be drawn into this fatal pitfall." 

"I am yours," I answered, grasping her hand; 
" count on all the assistance I am able to give." 

"Even if we should lose our lives in this enterprise," 
she continued, a can we die in a better causer?" 

"I don't much fear the smooth-faced villains hurting 
us," I answered, u for see here! (showing her my re- 
volver and bowie-knife) here is death for six of them, 
and this good knife will, argue with the balance. But 
where is Guysot's wife?" I asked. 

"Oh! she is sent off to an acquaintance's, some four 
or five squares distant, every Saturday night, on the 
plea that her husband has a club-meeting here, and 
female company is not desirable. I will run and bring 
her, though it will be a terrible shock to her." 

"No, I think we had better let her be," I replied ; 
"for if she sees the infidelity and depravity of her hus- 
band, and he is thus exposed before her, there will be 
no hope of reforming him, which we had best try to do 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loveks. 95 

first ; and then, if this course fail — if he exhibits no 
remorse on hearing of the awful crimes he has com- 
mitted, and caused to be committed ; if conscience has 
become perfectly seared, then we will pursue him with 
the rigors of the law ; for he is no more worthy to be 
called husband, or even man, and should be incarcerated 
as a ferocious beast, to protect society from his ravages. 
Recollect that, in punishing him openly, we punish his 
wife, who will feel its tortures as much more keenly 
than he, as her heart is more pure and sensitive than 
his. It is better to hold the rod of suspense over the 
heads of these serpents — have them to know T that we 
can bring destruction on them at any time — than to 
make a public example of them at once. For, once 
branded as outlaws, they will become perfectly reckless, 
and will have no inducement to reform. Give them to 
understand that we are watching them, and if the as- 
sumed names we use in our public exposition of their 
doings do not stop their criminal acts, we will give the 
public their real names. Don't you think this would 
be the better way ?" 

"I believe you are right," she replied; "but I want 
to alarm these, as yet, virtuous females, that they may 
see on what dangerous ground they stand, and that they 
may shun these villains in future, as they would shun 
so many venomous reptiles." • 

By this time the medium indicated, by frequently pass- 
ing her hand across her forehead, and by long intervals 
between her sentences, that the spirit was about leaving 
her, or else that the hopper of ideas was nearly empty. 
My companion whispered — 

U I must go, for the company will soon have to be 

served with some more wine; this wine," continued 

6he, ;i is drugged with , according to the direc- 

9 



96 Lenderman's Adventures among 

tion of the spirits, I suppose, that it may have a more 
powerful effect in exciting the 'passional attractions. 5 
Many is the bottle I have emptied of this dangerous 
liquid, and filled again with pure wine." 

She left me, and in a few moments entered the parlor 
with Mr. Guy sot, bearing more bottles and glasses. 
The glasses were emptied more readily this time than 
before. 

One of the young ladies, with light clear complexion, 
lustrous golden hair, and lips like rosebuds, her large 
blue eyes flashing the fires of "passional" excitement, 
was called to the piano. She was a splendid performer. 
Oh ! what heavenly music filled the room as she sang a 
passage from the " Bohemian Girl." When she was 
through with the song, Guysot arose and proposed, in 
conformity with the advice of the spirit's communica- 
tion of that evening, which said, " Music and dancing 
should be practiced here below, as having a powerful 
influence in softening our 'passional' natures," that the 
company should at once engage in these spiritual ex- 
ercises. 

The chairs were quickly set back, the center-table 
placed in the corner of the room, and the company 
paired off. 

" Give us a good polka," said Landor to the lady at 
the piano. 

And now each swung his partner in this lascivious 
dance. I noticed the room was growing darker — the 
gas was being gradually shut off — which made the cir- 
cling forms very indistinct. I advanced close to the 
mirror-door, feeling perfectly secure against detection ; 
for the dancers were so entirely and ecstatically absorbed 
in the contemplation of their partners, to whom they 
were drawn by the intensest " passional attraction," that 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 97 

they were lost to all other feelings or thoughts. That 
tall, handsome man, with the beautiful daughter of the 
South, almost carried her through the mazes of the 
dance, her head resting on his breast, and her lovely 
white arms, as soft and spotless as the whitest velvet, 
twined around his neck; his arm encircled her slender 
waist and held her angelic form in fond pressure to his 
own. In one of the dreamy, intoxicating circles of the 
dancers this beautiful couple disappeared. 

I heard footsteps approaching from the sitting-room. 
I hastened behind the curtain. They came floating into 
the bedroom, in closer embrace than before. He drew 
the door after him, which shut with a spring; he did 
not appear to notice the mirror-door being ajar. They 
sank on a luxurious lounge; she seemed perfectly un- 
conscious and resistless — entirely given up to his will. 
Delusion, "passional" excitement, and drugged wine 
had done their work, and done it effectually. 

I have seen the beautiful butterfly circle around the 
flame till it was drawn irresistibly to its own destruc- 
tion. I have seen the brilliant songster of the wood 
charmed by the wily serpent, and fall into its slimy jaws 
a victim to fascination. But here I saw an intelligent 
and immortal being, with spotless soul and angelic 
form, powerless in the arms of her destroyer — the de- 
stroyer not of the body alone, but of the mind, the 
morals, the soul — the destroyer of all that is of value 
in this life and the life to come — her energies paralyzed, 
unconscious of danger; virtue and delicacy stupefied ! 
Oh ! what a lamentable picture of the frailties of human- 
ity was before me! Two beings bearing the image of 
their Creator, endowed with transcendent beauty and 
with superior intelligence, about to give themselves into 



08 Lenderman's Adventures among 

that deceptive embrace — an embrace that will be more 
fatal than the embrace of death to the yet virtuous being. 
Better, far better would it be if she could sink on her 
death couch than on that couch of prostitution ; for the 
Rubicon of virtue once passed, farewell to all honor — ■ 
to all chastity — to all peace here and hereafter ! Why, 
oh, thou All-wise Creator, is it permitted that misery 
and death shall be allowed thus to disguise themselves ? 
"Why can not the frail one, who is about to be led from 
the paths of virtue, see the thorns and infinite miseries 
that, at no great distance, hedge up the broad road of 
vice she is about to enter ! 

Here my attention was arrested by an ineffectual at- 
tempt to open the door of the sitting-room. The next 
moment Matilda came rushing through the parlor with 
a lamp in her hand. She swung back the mirror, and 
entered the bedroom in the wildest excitement. 

" Thank God, it is not too late!" she exclaimed. 
" Monster ! leave her, or this shall make you !" drawing 
a bright blade from her bosom, and flourishing it with 
her right hand, her eyes gleaming as an infuriated 
woman's only can gleam. 

The cowardly libertine disengaged himself roughly 
from the unconscious being that twined around him, and 
rushed to the parlor, crying " Murder ! murder!" and 
knocking over half a dozen of the company who had 
crowded to the door of the bedroom. 

"Eouse up!" said Matilda, laying down her lamp 
and lifting the maiden from the lounge. " Do you know 
what you are doing ? Do you wish to be a prostitute ?" 
she shrieked in her ear. 

The fascination passed suddenly from her mind at 
the sound of this vile word. She slowly opened her 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 99 

eyes and stared wildly around, as if waking from some 
hideous nightmare — as though some oppressive incubus 
were lifted from her breast. 

"I see it, I see it as it is ! Are you an angel sent to 
deliver me?" she said, with slow but impressive tone, 
gazing intently at Matilda, who still held her with her 
left hand. 

"What are you about?" shouted Guysot, who had 
somewhat recovered himself, and had mustered courage 
enough to enter the bedroom, while sobs, shriekings, 
and faintings convulsed the parlor. 

" Go back, villain !" replied the heroine sternly, pierc- 
ing him with a glance that cowed his wicked heart. She 
advanced toward him, still holding the knife in her right 
hand and dragging the young lady with her left. She 
followed him into the parlor. " Silence !" she shouted, 
"I have something to say that concerns you all, and I 
want you to hear me. Brighten these lights, sir, for I 
want to be seen as well as heard." 

" Is she mad ?" " What does she mean ?" " She's 
crazy!" "Let 's go!" "Come, I fear we '11 get into 
difficulty." " Oh, dear, how frightened I am !" " Stand 
before me, Mr. Falleau, for I am really afraid of the 
woman." "See, how her eyes glare like a maniac's !" 
were some of the expressions heard at this time. The 
handsome libertine, pale and trembling, stood by the 
hall-door, with one hand on the knob, his countenance 
indicating a terrible misgiving about the region of the 
heart. 

" Sit down, all of you," said Guysot ; " I will guar- 
antee that none of you shall be hurt. Matilda has 
drank too much wine, I think, and it has gone to her 
head. Sit down, and I will light up, and we will hear 
what she has to say." 



100 



Lenderman's Adventures among 



The company reluctantly obeyed, and the gas-lights 
were made to burn more brilliantly. 

"Sit down, Charles, for I have something to tell that 
concerns you deeply," said Matilda. "I have resolved 
to change my life. I have lived a wicked life long 
enough. I am going home to my adopted parents, and 
will ask them for their forgiveness." 

"Well, we have no objections," said Guysot; "you 
can go to-night, if you wish. So, if that is all you 
want, there is no use of your preaching to us any longer, 
or making more fuss about it. Go and pack up your 
duds, and I will pay your way on the first train." 

He seemed very uneasy, as though he were appre- 
hensive of a very interesting performance, called a 
"family scene," which might involve him as one of the 
characters, and he seemed very anxious to take Matilda 
at her word and get her off his hands as soon as possi- 
ble. He acted just as I have seen men act before, who 
were afraid something would be said they did not wish 
to hear, and used their wits to the best advantage to 
ward off the danger. Henriette had sunk down on a 
chair by the side of the speaker and gazed intently in 
her face as in the face of a mysterious savior. 

"But, sir," Matilda continued, "I am going to break 
up this infernal plot — this conspiracy against every 
thing virtuous — before I leave. You and your fellow- 
villains have drank enough of the blood of innocence, 
and you shall drink no more, or I will expose your 
black deeds to the world ; ay, and I will set the dogs of 
justice on your track." 

"See here, now, you've said enough," cried Guysot, 
jumping up and grasping an iron poker — his eyes fairly 
flashing with rage. " I want you to leave." He raised 
the iron to strike her. 



The Spiritualists and Frkh-Lovers. * 101 

"Help!" she cried, turning toward me. 

I stepped out with the revolver in my left hand and 
the bowie-knife in my right. Guysot dropped the 
poker and started back, perfectly confused. A general 
rush was made for the door. "Shut that door, or you 
are a dead man," I shouted to the handsome Lander, 
who was about making good his escape. " I'll shoot 
the first one that attempts to leave this room. You 
shall hear what this woman has to say. And you, sir," 
addressing Guysot, " sit down on that chair and utter 
not a word till she has finished." 

Ilenriette had fallen on the floor in a swoon and 
Matilda was plying the water and camphor to revive her. 

" Oh, let me leave this place," she exclaimed, as she 
began to revive. " Oh, my God ! deliver me from this 
dreadful place!" 

She was soon able to sit up, and my companion com- 
menced speaking again. Never before did I see expres- 
sions of fear, hatred, shame, and humiliation so com- 
mingled in the human countenance, as were exhibited in 
the countenances of that company. Guysot recognized 
me as the bookseller, I knew, by the way he looked at 
me, and he seemed to have a presentiment that I was 
his evil genius. Turning to him, Matilda said: 

" Sir, you have been the cause of misery enough in 
this world, you should now be satisfied. You have 
blasted all my earthly hopes of pleasure. I loved you 
truly, passionately, when I knew you were wedded to 
another. I have suffered the penalty of that criminal 
love. Dearly have I atoned for it in tears of blood, in 
tortures of the soul that criminal hearts can only feel. 
I forgive you all the injury you have done me ; but look 
here, — the ring!" turning to me; I handed it to her; 
"who shall forgive you this? Do you know it!" she 



102 Lenderman's Adventures among 

liissed in his ear, hardly able to speak, holding the ring 
close to his face, her eyes gleaming on him with an 
unnatural fire that seemed to pierce his very soul. 
" Read the letters inside the ring ! Do you understand 
them?" she uttered between her clenched teeth. 

He stared vacantly at the glittering jewel, his eyes 
dilated with horror. He seemed a lost soul, awaiting 
his eternal condemnation before the bar of God. 

"Where is the finger that wore that ring?-' she 
shrieked : — "that angel whom you stole from virtue and 
peace, and swore to love and protect ? Where is she ?" 

Rigid with excitement in every limb she approached 
him till her lips almost touched his lace, and whispered, 
in a withering tone, that an avenging spirit whispers 
to its doomed -victim, "She is dead! You have mur- 
dered her ■!" 

"You lie!" shouted Guysot, jumping to his feet; 
"you lie! you cursed hag," he shouted, springing at 
her with the ferocity of a tiger on its prey. 

She fell back, and with a blow I felled him to the 
floor. He slowly rose and staggered to a chair. 

" It is just ! It is just ! I deserve it !" he exclaimed ; 
"I am a murderer. Oh, my God ! have mercy on me ! 
I see it, my horrid depravity ! Forgive me, Oh my 
God ! forgive me ! No, I can not be forgiven — my sin 
is too great. Dead ! dead ! It can not be — she is not 
dead!" and he started up again, his eyes gleaming a 
demoniac stare, " you deceive me, — Emily is not dead ! 
Tell me all, oh! quickly, and remove this fearful suspense. 
That lovely, that pure, that heavenly being ! it can not 
be that she is dead ! that I never can ask her forgiveness ! 
Speak, why do you taunt me with this silence ?" 

"Sir," I answered, "I saw that ring drawn from the 
finger of a corpse — a beautiful female corpse — taken 



Tiie Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 103 

from the Mississippi river. She had, also, in her 
bosom a locket containing a likeness exactly resembling 
yourself. I assisted in holding an inquest over her 
and her unborn child. They now lie in the graveyard 
of . 

Guysot uttered not a word, but stood transfixed to the 
spot, motionless, each muscle rigid as if its fibers had 
been of iron ; a living picture of the agonies of remorse, 
terrible and unmitigated as the fires of eternal torture. 
The room was still as the grave. I could hear the low 
inspirations of his breast, and the very palpitations of 
his heart as it beat at irregular intervals. With painful 
effort he moved his head ; this exertion seemed to break 
the paralysis that benumbed his system. He pressed 
his forehead and feebly groaned, " My brain ! my brain ! 
Oh, it is on fire! — help!" He staggered and would 
have fallen, but I caught him and laid his relaxed body 
on a lounge. Opening his eyes and reaching his hand 
toward Matilda, he said, feebly: 

" Will you forgive me?" 

" Yes," she quickly answered. " But do, I pray you, 
give up these wicked practices, and persuade your 
companions here to do the same, that no more innocent 
beings may be dragged down to destruction." 

"Oh, I confess all," he exclaimed, "that lam the 
most degraded of beings. Oh, that I could recall the 
misery that I have caused! Oh, Emily! murdered 
Emily ! you never can forgive me ! Hell, yes ! there 
must be a hell where I shall atone for this awful crime! 
Forgiveness! No, I can not ask for forgiveness ; my 
crime is too great! I can not be forgiven. I should 
suffer eternally, it is right ! I am conquered ! Forgive 
me, my friends, that I have influenced you to do wrong. 
Shun this accursed system of prostitution I have taught 



104 Lenderman's Adventures among 

you — this snare of the Evil One — this emanation of 
hell. Try to make amends for the violations of weeping 
virtue that you have committed. I will bear all the 
blame. Let my soul go down to hell, there to burn in 
eternal torments, too little punishment for my atrocious 
sins ! But oh ! I pray you, tread no more in this bloody 
track ! — Bring my wife, that I may ask her forgiveness! 55 

Matilda sprang from the door. 

" My friends," he continued, in a stifled voice, "I 
feel that my criminal life is near its end. There is 
a deadening oppression in my brain, and it increases. 
I hear a mysterious noise in my ears, a roaring of 
waters. I am suffocated — I can hardly breathe. Open 
the windows. Oh, there is my wife ! Start not — come 
quickly, for it soon will be over. I am dying !" 

"What is this?" she whispered, her large eyes 
starting with affright, and a deathly paleness coming 
over her features. 

"I have been deceiving you, cruelly deceiving you," 
he continued; "I have been false to you. Forgive 
me! Oh, forgive me! that a part of my burden may 
be removed. Oh, what misery ! how long can it last I 
I feel a numbness creeping over me ! Your forgiveness, 
quick!" he feebly stammered, reaching his hand spas- 
modically toward her. 

She attempted to grasp it ; with horror and despair 
depicted in her pallid countenance, she fell prostrate at 
his side, muttering, "The third time, the third time!" 

"Oh, my Ood ! There is no hope, no hope! Oh, it 
is so!" Matilda exclaimed, as if some terrible discovery 
had broken on her mind. "He will die, he will die! 
and have I caused this! Oh, what have I done!" 
She continued in these exclamations, weeping and 
wringing her hands in the utmost agony. 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loveks. 105 

" What mean you?" I asked. 

"Oh, sir, be quick! help him ; it is that fearful apo- 
plexy; he has had it twice before, and the doctor said 
if he should have it the third time, he would die. Oh! 
if you can, help him, quickly. Oh, my God! my God! 
what shall I do?" and she raved like one deranged. 

"Be calm, Matilda, your acting thus will make him 
much worse," I replied. 

I soon became satisfied that she was right ; that a 
blood-vessel had been ruptured in his brain by the in- 
tense mental excitement, and that the brain was slowly 
but surely being compressed by an effusion of blood. 
He had now become perfectly insensible ; his pulse was 
full and sluggish, his breathing laborious, attended with 
that alarming symptom of snoring and puffing out of 
the lips at every breath. His eyes became fixed, taking 
no notice of any thing before them. He appeared not 
to hear what was spoken to him. I had a lancet in my 
pocket, and tying up both his arms, set a stream of 
blood running from each. I had his head elevated and 
held over a tub, then I poured pitcherful after pitcher- 
ful of cold water from a hight on the crown of his head, 
hoping to remove that fatal pressure that was fast smoth- 
ering out the spark of life. 

And oh ! what a scene that room presented ! I can 
not describe it. Death is awful when its approach is 
foretold by oft-repeated warnings, when friends have 
been expecting it from day to day, for weeks, or perhaps 
for months ; but when it comes suddenly, although the 
mourners know that the victim is prepared for it by a 
virtuous life, and is but exchanging this life for a better 
one, it is a still more awful shock. Nothing so arrests 
our worldly thoughts and schemes. It seems to com- 
mand our attention, our sympathies, and our grief. It 



106 Lenderman's Adventures among 

startles us as though a judgment trump had aroused us 
from our pleasant dreams. It comes across our worldly 
track and bids us stop and see where our life-journey 
must end. If death be dreadful here — how much more 
dreadful, with what inexpressible horror is it surrounded 
when the poor victim is leaving this world w r ith hands 
red with the blood of murdered innocence — with heart 
calloused by a life of crime, and where the mourners — 
if mourners there be — are comrades in the victim's guilt, 
viewing the sad scene that they themselves must soon 
pass through. Oh, who can imagine that awful spec- 
tacle ! 

There were instances of heartfelt repentance in that 
throng. The monster of licentious freedom showed it- 
self, undisguised, in all its loathsome deformity. It 
hung its serpent-head in shame, and for a time, its wor- 
shipers disclaimed allegiance to its disgusting reign. 

My efforts to restore him were in vain. His breath- 
ing grew heavier, and at longer intervals, and finally 
ceased. He was dead ! Oh ! the soul-piercing shrieks 
that rent that room ! they still ring in my ears ! May 
it never be my fate again to listen to such groans of 
agony ! 

One by one the company left the room, for con- 
science — guilty conscience — rendered it as unpleasant 
now, as " passional attraction " had rendered it entic- 
ing before. The occupants of the parlor now were the 
corpse, the prostrate and insensible widow, my com- 
panion in this melancholy affair, who still raved and 
would not be comforted, the young lady snatched from 
infamy, who seemed perfectly stupefied with horror, the 
servant-girl who had come up from the kitchen attracted 
by the screams and commotion above, standing like an 
idiot with stupid stare and speechless tongue, not know- 



The Spiritualists ajnd Free-Lovers. 107 

ing what she was about, and myself, with head almost 
turned by the harrowing scenes I had witnessed. 

I thought it my duty to remain till the stricken beings 
before me should pass through the severity of the storm 
of sorrows that surrounded them. I said nothing, for 
what could I say? Words of consolation would be but 
mockery! I became more and more concerned as to 
the effects this shock was producing on their minds ; 
and even when my mind was thus excited, and wholly 
occupied and alive to what was before me, the self-crim- 
inating question whispered — Have I not gone too far ? 
am I innocent of these fatal consequences ? 

Mrs. Guy sot raved until she had become entirely ex- 
hausted. We had succeeded in getting her to take a 
few drops of laudanum, for I feared she might add an- 
other victim to the horrors of that night. She finally 
sank into a deep slumber, or rather an insensible state. 

After bringing the servant girl to a state of conscious- 
ness, I sent for an undertaker, who soon arrived, and 
we laid out the corpse on the cooling-board. I did not 
think it necessary to tell him the circumstances of Guy- 
sot's death, merely stating that lie died of apoplexy. 

The undertaker having departed, I returned to the sit- 
ting-room and found Matilda partially composed ; the 
thought of her being the cause of Gnysot's death seemed 
to harrow her soul continually. I endeavored to im- 
press on her the necessity of overcoming her feelings to 
attend to Mrs. Guysot, w T hom I considered in a critical 
situation. By such persuasions, I succeeded in getting 
Matilda and the young lady, Miss Brandon, to assist in 
carrying Mrs. Guysot to her bedroom. Leaving full 
directions as to what was to be done, I prepared to de- 
part, having assured them that I would return after I 
had obtained some rest, for my own mind was staler- 



108 Lendekman's Adventures among 

ing from the intense excitement and over-exertion of 
the preceding hours. 

I pray God that I never ma)^ have to pass through 
such an ordeal again. A desire, approaching almost 
to enthusiasm, of witnessing human actions under sin- 
gular and unnatural circumstances, would not tempt me 
to witness a repetition of the scenes of that evening. 

Passing the cathedral, on my way home, its bell 
struck three. It startled me ; I had no idea it was so 
late. When the mind becomes wholly absorbed in in- 
tense excitement time passes unnoticed, as in a dream. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

House of Mourning. Mrs. Guy sot. Henriette. Inside History of a 
Boarding School for Young Ladies. Mrs. Jelliot, the Matron. A 
remarkable Sunday Morning Breakfast. A solitary Burial. An- 
other Victim of Spiritualism. A Harrowing Scene. The Monster 
Free-Love. Arrival of Mrs. Guysot's Parents ; their deep Affliction. 
Melancholy Journey. 

After getting some rest and refreshment, I returned 
to the house of mourning. I found its inmates pros- 
trated with grief that refused to be assuaged. Mrs. 
Guysot had awakened to the dread reality of her con- 
dition. The storm had spent its violence on her broken 
heart, and she lay sunk in the lifeless calm of hopeless 
despair. Her spirit was doubly smitten. Earth was 
now a dreary waste, barren of joy. As I approached 
her, she raised her melancholy eyes. No spirit was 
there. Gloom, despair, unrelieved b} r a ray of hope, 
shadowed forth from those dark mirrors of the soul. 
Oh, what a painful look ! what grief unmitigated did 
those eyes express! she spoke not. Her feelings were 
too deep for words. There is an intensity of grief that 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 109 

extends to the innermost depths of the soul that words 
can not reach, nor can the face indicate it. The eye, at 
such times, takes an unnatural luster, a spiritual fire, 
that thrills and alarms the beholder. We left her alone, 
for what consolation could we give ! Matilda tried to 
compose herself, that she might be of service to Mrs. 
Guysot, but her feelings would frequently overflow and 
burst forth in a flood of tears. Oh ! what a relief to 
the pent-up sorrows is this heaven-made faculty ; this 
power of weeping ; it is the torrent to the consuming 
flames. And thus did Matilda subdue the fires that 
would, ever and anon, flash up from their smothered 
bed. But the poor wife of Guysot had not this relief. 
The fount of her tears was dried. The intensity of her 
grief had driven the moisture of life from their beds. 
If Guysot had died in virtue, in the nobility of man- 
hood, the stroke would not have been so cruel. But, 
oh ! to be conscious of his going into the presence of 
a just God from the very scenes of his wickedness, with 
his soul stained with the blood of murdered virtue, 
oh ! it was this horrid thought that added poignancy 
to the grief of the mourners. 

Henriette insisted on staying with her " angel spirit," 
as she called Matilda. Her heart, overflowing with 
childlike gratitude, seemed almost to worship her. She 
refused to return to her boarding-house. The thought 
of how near she had been to the brink of infamy, and 
how she had been rescued from plunging into its bot- 
tomless depths of woe, made her whole being shudder 
with horror. Like a child escaped from some dreadful 
danger, she feared to venture from the shadow of her 
protector. I remonstrated with her on the impropriety 
of absenting herself from her boarding-house. She 
obstinately refused to go, saving, "She was afraid to bo 
10 



110 Lenderman's Adventures among 

alone." It was enough to touch the hardest heart, to 
see such angelic loveliness so bound with innocent gra- 
titude to its benefactor. Oh, how depraved ! how ruth- 
less the man who could deliberately throw the snares of 
seduction around so innocent, so beautiful a being; 
whose heart was so pure, so confiding ; a lovely flower, 
exhaling the aroma of Heaven. Sacrilege! — it is 
worse than sacrilege. — Sacrilege harms not the ob- 
ject of the insult, but only the insulter; while this 
crime aims its poisoned barb at the very heart of its 
victim, laid open to the seducer by its innocent con- 
fidence : it is the murder of the soul. I took it on 
myself to go to Henriette's boarding-house to try and 
explain her absence to the matron satisfactorily. This 
boarding-house was kept expressly for young ladies from 
a distance, who were attending school in the city. I 
was ushered into the parlor of Mrs. Jelliot by a Bridget, 
whose head reminded me of a mouse-nest in a tow-heap, 
and whose big round face (which would have been red 
if the alluvial deposits had been removed), of the sun 
seen through a smoked glass. She had arms and hands 
to match, and a pair of feet that made themselves man- 
ifest at every step, by a quick, dull clap of collision be- 
tween soles and sole leather. She wore a dirty calico 
dress, a bifurcated apron, reeking with dish-water, and a 
petticoat whose variegated scollops and fringes could be 
seen without the fashionable and laborious process of 
raising the dress. " I wish to see Mrs. Jelliot." " And 
is it in regard to the young ladies you wish to see Mrs. 
Jelliot." "Yes." It was some minutes before the 
formidable proprietress of the house came in, pinning 
on a cap, as she entered. It was plain that the fat old 
lady had been working the hardest, for the last few 
moments, to produce as great a change as possible in 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. Ill 

her external appearance ; thinking, no doubt, that I 
was a friend of some of her boarders, or that I was 
bringing a new accession. It is really astonishing how 
suddenly these boarding-house matrons can undergo a 
metamorphosis. In a space of five minutes they will 
so transform themselves as not to be recognized by their 
own servants. When Bridget tells them there is a 
"genteel call," the change in their appearance is as 
much greater than that from the chrysalis to the but- 
terfly, as it is quicker : they would make capital per- 
formers on the stage, where sudden changes of dress 
and character are required. Mrs. Jelliot, in the hurry 
of transformation, had forgotten her wig, but had stuck 
on the curls, presenting a beautiful contrast of dark 
brown shading over an iron-gray groundwork. She 
was very polite ; hoped we would excuse the deshabille 
of things in general, as two of her girls had just left 
(which they are guilty of doing every time a stranger 
happens in unawares). I broke in on her apologies 
by saying that Miss Brandon-s absence was owing to 
her assisting a friend, whose family had been bereaved 
of one of its members the night before. "I thought 
Miss Henriette had gone to the Bible class. Probably 
she was not aware, this morning, of her friend's bereave- 
ment, else she would have told me, as I take the liberty 
of exercising a close supervision over the visits of the 
young ladies intrusted to my care. Some of them think 
I am most too strict," she said, with what was intended 
to be a modest self-approving smile. 

" You can tell Miss Henriette that she can stay till 
tea-time, but must surely come back then, as I feel un- 
der great responsibilities in reference to my ' charges.'" 

" I will give her your message," I replied, bidding her 
good morning. As I was passing through the hall, an 



112 Lenderman's Adventures among 

uninitiated Miss swung the dining-room door open, not 
being aware that said door was not to be opened when 
visitors were in the hall. I saw, scattered over a long 
table, the remnants of a "three dollars a week" board- 
ing school breakfast. It told, most eloquently, what an 
interest boarding-school matrons take in the temporal 
welfare of the aforesaid u charges." A potatoe or two 
boiled with the skin on (which manner of cooking these 
delightful roots, matrons are aware is the simplest and 
most healthful), kept manners at long intervals through 
the tables. The outside crusts of some baker's loaves, 
puffed worse than any quack medicine, kept company 
with the above named vegetables. A mussed-up dab 
of butter, on a little plate, here and there, maintained 
its ground by sheer force of strength. These delicacies 
were presided over, at proper distances, by eighteen 
penny molasses cans, innocent of contents, except a dark 
sediment at the bottom ; they looked like so many for- 
lorn sentinels of a rainy morning, in time of peace, 
keeping guard over empty barracks. A huge platter, 
with a crack through the middle, and a notch broken 
out at the commencement of said crack, extended across 
one end of the table. An unwieldly buck-horn handled 
carving knife and fork, large enough for a Don Quix- 
ote's sword and spear, lay composedly in the platter in 
juxta-position with a section of an ox's shoulder blade. 
I imagined the following conversation taking place be- 
tween the steel weapons and the decarnified scapula. 
" We have conquered you, although it was a hard strug- 
gle. It is fool-hardy for beef, though from the thick 
neck of an Illinois buffalo, to contend against our resist- 
less temper." Mr. Carving-knife, turning to his consort 
of the platter, remarks ; " I wonder how ivory manages 
to hold its own with what such steel as ours can scarcely 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 113 

overcome." " This is a mystery I never could pene- 
trate," Madam Fork replies, with a click of her thumb- 
spring, "though my powers of penetrating and prying 
into things have the proverbial acuteness of my sex." 
The charred remnants of one dismembered biscuit 
remained " solitary and alone," to bear testimony that 
u we had our Sunday morning (light?) cakes." 
* * # # # 

The burial was to take place at two in the afternoon. 
I can not describe the solemnity of that mournful 
scene, — the unutterable grief that bore down the hearts 
of the mourners. No words were spoken, — no prayers 
were offered, — no preacher poured his words of consola- 
tion into the soul-wounds of the afflicted. The under- 
taker, by the help of the hack-driver, bore the coffin 
to the hearse. No long array of carriages, filled 
with sympathizing and unsympathizing relations, and 
acquaintances, and strangers, resorting to funerals for 
a gratuitous ride, followed the hearse. A single car- 
riage containing the three ladies and myself, was all 
that followed in that dreary procession. 

Oh, who can describe the pangs of a widow's heart ! 
The more worthless and abandoned the object she 
mourns, the more poignant seems her grief. The nearer 
we approached the grave, the more insupportable was 
her agony; and when the coffin was let down into its deep, 
dark cell, and it gave forth its dead, horrid discords, as 
the clods fell rudely down, it seemed to snap her very 
heart-strings, that had so long vibrated but to sounds 
of sorrow, increasing in the deep painfulness of their 
tones. 

She sank down with a groan that came from the deep 
wound of her soul, — the last breath that relentless 
grief extort3 from its tortured victim. A deathly 



r> 



114 Lenderman's Adventures among 

paleness came over her features. Every muscle relaxed. 
As the delicate plant reared in the shaded parlor, wilts 
in the mid-day sun, so she sank under the withering 
rays of insupportable grief. Her limbs hung power- 
less toward the earth. Cold drops of sweat started from 
her face. Her cheeks grew pallid and then purple. In 
vain I called for some stimulant, to call back the spark 
of life. No smelling-bottle, — no camphor, — not even 
a drop of water was to be had. Oh, for one little cup 
of simple water! Of what priceless value it would 
have been ! We fanned her, — we rubbed her (for the 
excitement of the moment had driven mourning for the 
dead from our thoughts) but in vain ! we could not 
bring the warmth back to her hands, we could not keep 
the dark blood from settling around those crystal nails. 
She looked intensely and fixedly upward. A dimness 
w r as slowly coming over those soul-speaking eyes ; their 
brilliance, that had dazzled the heart of every admirer, 
was fast passing away before the cruel pencil of obliter- 
ating death. Oh, cruel Death ! why, oh ! why dost 
thou delight in drawing thy black pencil over such pure 
and lovely features! Was it not sufficient that cruel 
affliction and despair should have shaded them with 
fixed melancholy ; that thou shouldst add the finishing 
touch of lifeless dissolution? But how useless, how 
hopeless are petitions to this relentless tyrant! He 
laughs at our entreaties. The death-bed is his joy, his 
feast. The more lovely the object, the more delectable 
the morsel to his revolting appetite. Her heart beats 
faintly and fitfully. Her breath comes convulsively, 
and at longer intervals. A suffocating gasp, with that 
fearful death rattle, — and she breathes no more. The 
undertaker came running from the nearest house with 
camphor and water, $ group following in his wake. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 115 

But it was too late! she was dead! Her sufferings 
were at an end. Her spirit had flown to its native 
land. And will it meet there the spirit of her false 
husband? Thou alone, infinitely just God, knowest. 
The greedy and insatiable monster of " Free-Love," 
gloated over another victim. A third murder was laid 
at the door of libeled " Freedom." The dreadful scene 
had perfectly overpowered the two frail beings who 
knelt over the inanimate body before them. Matilda, 
with hands clasped over her breast, her eyes riveted on 
the face of the dead, rocked to and fro, her blanched 
lips moving mechanically, a low and almost inaudible 
whisper coming from them : My God ! my God ! have 
mercy ! Henriette knelt speechless, with staring and 
uplifted eyes, terror stricken. This was grief too 
poignant for wailing ; it descended to the depths of the 
heart unmoved by the ripplings of common sorrow. I 
leave the imagination to depict the sad task before us. 
The kind neighbors volunteered to take charge of the 
preparations for the interment ; and the carriage took 
its stricken beings back to their doubly desolate home : 
and there we left them, to contend with grief that 
mocked consolation. I considered it my duty to inform 
Mrs. Guysot's parents of the decease of their daughter, 
and accordingly telegraphed the melancholy tidings. 
It brought the response, ""We will come." The next 
evening brought Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont to the late 
home of Guysot. Is there a pen that can describe 
a parent's grief at the loss of a child ? Is there a tongue 
that can tell a mother's feelings at the loss of a daughter? 
The parents, whose features bore the unmistakable 
impress of long affliction, sat in silence, the tears 
coursing down their furrowed cheeks. They seemed 
afraid to ask the particulars of the melancholy occur- 



116 Lenderman's Adventures among 

rence, as though they feared unwelcome answers. 
The next morning I accompanied them with Henriette 
and Matilda, to the house near the cemetery, where lay 
the body of their daughter. Not a word was spoken. 
The carriage stopped, and I supported the tottering 
mother to the house. She sank exhausted into a chair. 
The room that contained their child, was pointed out 
to them. I left the house, for I had witnessed enough 
of such harrowing scenes. Scarce had I closed the 
door behind me, when my ears were pierced with a 
single scream of agony, which told too plainly of the 
pang that mother's heart had felt. I rushed to the 
room, and found her swooning in the arms of the 
father. She was quickly taken to the open air, where 
she revived and walked alone to the sitting-room. 
She seemed perfectly composed. That one shock, 
excruciating and crushing as it was, had paralyzed her 
grief, and braced her against any thing that could 
afflict her. Affliction had spent its last arrow in 
piercing that maternal heart; it was transfixed, and 
no more could it quiver at the wounds of lesser griefs. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Gratitude of an Affectionate Heart. A Lovely Creature. Beauty in 
the Country and Beauty in the City. A Perfect Woman. How and 
where to find a handsome and sensible Woman. Cause of Homely 
"Women. A Good-for-nothing Woman. Base Conduct of a Spiritual- 
ist. Infamous " Communications" of a " Medium. " an Affecting 
Scene in the Cars. 

The violence of the storm having passed, the parents 
were again calm, — and tried to be resigned to their 
affliction, saying it was from God, and he did all for the 
best. They resolved to take the body of their child 
with them to Baltimore, to be interred in the family 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 117 

vault, where they could mourn over the remains of 
what was the pride of their hearts. They proposed 
that Matilda should accompany them; which proposition 
she received with joy, for she longed to leave this 
place, which now was associated with so many painful 
recollections. But Henriette would not listen to this 
arrangement. She said, in her childlike simplicity, 
that Matilda should never leave her, and she threw her 
arms around Matilda's neck, kissing her as though she 
had been a fond parent, while the tears glistened in her 
dark eyes and suffused her cheeks, whose clearness 
blushed with delicate carnation, were rendered more 
lovely by the liquid gems silently coursing down their 
soft surface. She begged Matilda not to leave her. 
How touching her innocent words as they came from 
those ruby lips, red as if chiseled from brightest coral, 
slightly parted with the intensity of her petition, dis- 
playing the crowns of her even and brilliantly white 
teeth ! A more lovely, enchanting being than Henri- 
ette, I never beheld. There was something so bewitch- 
ingly natural about every feature and every expression, 
that perfectly carried away the beholder with admira- 
tion, or I might almost say, with idolatry. Reared on 
a plantation adjoining the suburbs of a large town, 
having the healthful advantages of country air and 
exercise, commingled with just enough of city society 
to polish her manners, the natural perfections of her 
queenly form became developed, as her gifted mind, 
and pure, sensitive heart were improved by mental 
training. 

There was an indescribable loveliness about Henriette 

that one can appreciate but not express in words. All 

of us have seen, in our lives, beings that seemed our 

beau ideal of perfection ; beings that struck us w T ith an 

11 



118 Lenderman's Adveotures among 

admiration bordering almost on idolatry. If we were 
called on to describe them, to delineate the particular 
features that called forth our admiration, we should be 
at a loss to do so. There is a combination of physical, 
mental and moral beauties that make up these lovely 
flowers, — such a perfect correspondence of every part, — 
that the whole strikes us with a pleasant charm, whose 
passing loveliness we could not alter but to mar. "Wo 
feel the utter inability of conveying the sensations they 
produce in our mind to others. As well might we 
attempt to describe the tints and perfumes of the bril- 
liant and fragrant flower ; it must be seen ; its fragrance 
must be breathed to be appreciated. Commence analyz- 
ing the individual beauties for accurate description and 
you kill the ideal perfection. 

Thus it was with the beautiful Henriette. The most 
stoical beholder could not gaze on her but to admire. 
And her personal beauty (which she seemed unconscious 
of possessing) but corresponded with the more lasting 
ethereal beauties of her mind and heart. If there are 
beings on earth but a step removed from angels, she 
was one of those beings. It is useless to search for such 
faultless loveliness in the polished society of our large 
cities. However promising the opening bud may be of 
future perfections, its colors fade, its freshness wilts 
before it has fairly bloomed. 

Ere the maiden has reached the age of ripe woman- 
hood, she has lost those natural charms that should 
attract the admiration of the lovers of the beautiful. 
No wonder our city ladies lose their personal charms so 
soon ; their manner of living could produce no other 
result: reared in indolence ; taught that bodily exercise 
is unbecoming a lady ; the mind, stimulated to exercise 
disproportionate to that of the body ; the food of the most 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 119 

stimulating kind, fit only for those engaged in powerful 
exercises in the open air; habits of amusement the most 
irregular and exhausting on the nervous energies. In a 
word, it seems as though it were the study of our fashion- 
able ladies to invent the quickest way of destroying their 
beauty, of giving the most depraved constitution to 
their offspring, and of bringing their own lives to the 
very shortest limit, without actually committing suicide. 
How few handsome women do you meet, sweeping the 
streets with costly silks, or rolling along in splendid 
coaches! Although dressed gorgeously, and sailing 
along as gracefully as some fairy ship, through the 
living waves of the fashionable promenade ; though she 
be erect and smiling and can raise the skirt of her rich 
silk dress to show the snowy and richly-embroidered 
underclothes, with the most bewitching grace, still she 
is not handsome ; she has that yellow complexion which 
no lily-white nor rouge can correct: her features are 
thin and angular, or if full, are soft, colorless and sickly 
in appearance. She does not enjoy herself; she is of 
no use in society. She is unfit for a wife or a mother, 
and soon arrives at a helpless and premature old age. 
But give me a girl from the country for beauty, for ser- 
vice, for a wife, for a mother and a companion through 
life. You will see more real beauty and female worth 
in walking through a small country village, on some 
Sunday when the country girls are coming to church, 
than in a year's search in the city. 

The country girls have great reason to rejoice that 
they are not bound with the servile chains of fashion, as 
their metropolitan sisters are. And not only are their 
personal charms superior, but their minds also. There 
is some satisfaction in sitting down to talk with a coun- 
try girl: she has not learned that operas, and polkas, 



120 Lenderman's Adventures among 

and poodles, are the only legitimate subjects of conver- 
sation for a lady. No less refreshing is it in the heats 
of summer, to leave the heavy, tainted, smoky atmos- 
phere of the metropolis, and breathe the pure air of the 
summer forests, than to exchange the artificial, senseless 
society of ladies of fashion for the pure angelic influ- 
ence of woman moving in her native bowers. Such a 
refreshing, delicious sensation was experienced in the 
society of the beautiful Henriette. She seemed all that 
perfect natural loveliness, adorned, but not marred by 
art, could be. So seldom does the lover of pure nature 
meet with such beings as she, that, as when he sees a 
rare and most beautiful flower in his pathway, he stops 
and gazes long, in rapturous and holy admiration. 

Mr. Brandon had sent Henriette (who was the only 
solace of his widowed heart) to Cincinnati, more parti- 
cularly to take lessons in music of the distinguished 
professors of this city. Before coming here, she had 
been under the tuition of a private governess of superior 
qualifications, who had recently come in possession of 
some property that relieved her from the drudgery of 
teaching for a living (although she said it always was 
a pleasure to instruct her dear " Hettie"). Henri- 
ette had felt orphaned, since being deprived of the 
society of her governness and father ; she had no one 
here to confide in as a friend ; the cold and cheerless 
boarding-house was a dreary dungeon to her warm and 
joyous heart. In an evil hour she was introduced to 
Landor. It is not to be wondered at that her confiding 
and inexperienced nature was easily led astray by the 
deceptive persuasions of this dangerous man, disguised 
as they were under the garb of friendship. Landor's 
father and Mr. Brandon had been school-fellows, and he 
had taken advantage of this circumstance to win the 



TnE Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 121 

confidence of Henriette to further his fiendish schemes. 
By exciting her vivid imagination with the delusions of 
Spiritualism, he had got her completely in his power. 
He had so arranged the spiritual communications, that 
they led this innocent girl to believe that her affections 
should be wholly bestowed on him ; that he was the 
being who was created for her natural partner, and that 
she was but obeying the irresistible laws of her " pas- 
sional nature," in bestowing her affections wholly on 
him ; that it was right and obligatory on her to enjoy 
to the fullest, the pleasures of that " passional attach- 
ment," and that a consummation of those passional 
enjoyments was not a crime, but an obedience to the 
commands of Nature. And, so skillfully were the 
6nares of the seducer twined around the heart of his 
victim, that she was wholly borne away by these delu- 
sive, intoxicating reveries. He carried his infernal plot 
so far as to profess to have the spirit of her sainted 
mother in communication with the medium ; and that 
disgusting thing, in the shape of woman, stood up and 
avowed herself to be speaking the words of a mother 
to her child, when she said it was her desire that her 
loved Henriette should prostitute herself to the base 
desires of Landor. Oh, what atrocious wickedness ! 
Why, oh God, dost thou not strike down with instant 
death, the fiend who can thus assume thy prerogative 
to delude and drag down to her own hell a pure and 
innocent sister ! But, thus far, merciful God ! thou 
hast frustrated and confounded the plans of the seducer, 
after all his skillful and hellish plottings. Continue 
thy protection over this child of Heaven, that she may 
go to thy bosom pure and uncorrupted ! 

Matilda finally consented to remain with Henriette 
till her term of tuition expired, and then to go home 



122 Lendekman's Adventures among 

and live with her. Considering the obloquy that soci- 
ety casts on the female that takes but a step from the 
path of propriety, and how unforgiving that society is, 
and unrelenting in its punishment of the erring frail one, 
Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont thought, perhaps, this might 
be the better course; for, returning where she was 
known, she could hope but to meet the scorn and deri- 
sion of her former acquaintances, except, perhaps, her 
adopted parents, whose love could never be alienated. 
And this contempt of a fastidious society might drive 
her into that abyss of recklessness, where so many have 
engulfed themselves in hopeless misery. Mr. Beau- 
mont gave her all the furniture of the house and a hun- 
dred dollars in money, that being amply sufficient to 
pay her expenses while remaining in the city. 

Henriette's term of tuition would expire in about two 
months ; she did not wish to leave before that time, for 
fear of paining her dear father's heart by a recital of 
the reasons that caused her to leave. 

With swimming eyes and heavy hearts, and with 
touching and painful farewells, the stricken parents took 
leave and pursued their gloomy way with the sad 
remains of their cherished daughter. Ah, what sad 
thoughts filled their souls in this dreary journey ! How 
jarring to their feelings the light talk of those around 
them, who knew not of their grief. One of the most 
melancholy scenes I ever witnessed, was a mother 
returning home in the cars with the corpse of a beloved 
daughter by her side. The father met her at one of the 
stations. It was a mournful meeting. A husband, 
wife, and the lifeless body of their loved child. Not a 
word was spoken. The husband took the hand of his 
sobbing wife. Not a muscle moved in his manly face, 
but the tears silently coursing down his rigid features, 



The Spikitcalists and Free-Loveks. 123 

told how deep the shaft of agony had sunk into his 
heart. I wept, for I could not help it. It was but 
Nature's tribute of sympathy. Thus did this father and 
mother pursue their homeward course, bereft of all that 
was dear to them this side the grave. 



CHAPTER X. 

Matilda's Revelations of the horrid Acts of the Spiritual Free-Love 
Society. Mary Vernon, the beautiful Glovemaker. Her sad History 
and unhappy Death. A Family ruined by the Spiritual Demon. 
Pollock, the Spiritual Lecturer. Inhuman Wickedness of a Female 
Medium. The lost One. Spiritualists alarmed at their Wickedness. 
The Porter's and the Lady-boarder's Story. A Home destroyed. 

At the solicitation of Matilda and Henriette, I called 
on them daily to give them what consolation my com- 
pany could afford. At one of my visits, I suggested 
to Matilda, whether it was not our duty to expose this 
vile system of delusion, by which she and others had 
suffered so much ; and I asked if she would not be 
willing to tell me her sad experience, and all the inci- 
dents she had become acquainted with in her connectiou 
with these Spiritualists and Free-Lovers while in this 
city. She replied, rather would I obliterate forever 
those memories from my mind. Oh I that I never 
could think of the scenes I have witnessed, — of the 
crimes against religion, virtue, and even decency; that 
I have known to be committed under the deceptive 
garb of Spiritual " Freedom." I insisted that she owed 
it as a duty to the protection of the chastity of her sex, 
that she should contribute her mite to unmask these mon- 
sters, that were gorging themselves with the very life's- 
blood of socictv. I asked if she would not give me a 



121 Lenderman's Adventures among 

history of some of the victims, she had so frequently 
referred to; not for the gratification of a morbid curiosity, 
but to furnish me with specimens of the fruit of these 
deadly upas, to whose boughs, its unsuspecting victims 
are seduced by the fascinating brilliance of its verdure, 
and the golden hues of its enticing fruits, which, though 
attractive to the eye, are ashes and bitterness to the 
taste. With much reluctance she consented that I 
should use what I thought best of what she already had 
told me, if it would contribute to the rooting up of 
these deadly growths of sin, these rank excrescences of 
diseased humanity ; she said that it would take too long 
to recount, at present, all of sad interest she had witnes- 
sed in this house, but that she would write the incidents 
down at her leisure, as well as she could, and that I 
might use what I thought would contribute to the fur- 
therance of my object. Three or four days afterward, 
she handed me a manuscript containing the following: 
" Among the first that attended our Spiritual Circle, 
was Mary Vernon. She was about twenty years of 

age, and kept a glove shop on street. Her father 

was a glove maker, and established the business and 
stand which she then carried on, for the support of her- 
self, her palzied mother, a young sister, and two 
brothers still younger; her father having died about 
three years before. Few families were happier than 
theirs. I have often called at her shop, and never 
could get away, without going through the little back 
room, and up-stairs, to spend a few moments with her 
afflicted mother. Soon after the birth of her last child, 
her mother, in attempting to move about too soon, to 
attend to her domestic affairs, as many another mother 
does, fell from the top of the stairs by a sudden exhaus- 
tion, and striking her back on the edge of a step, received 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 125 

an injury that palzied her lower limbs ever after; she 
had no motion or feeling in her legs and feet, — no more 
than if they had been so much dead flesh hanging to 
her body. She had to exercise a constant care over 
them, to keep them from being burnt or frozen, for they 
conveyed no sensation of such injury themselves. She 
sat continually in her armed chair, except when she 
was in bed, laid there by her affectionate daughters. 
Iler dreary hours were passed in sewing gloves. Often 
would she sit by the front window and enliven her 
monotonous occupation by noticing the stream of living 
humanity that continually flowed along the streets. 
Her younger daughter, Sarah, just turned into her 
seventeenth year, did the housework ; Edgar the eldest 
boy, about fourteen, was employed as messenger at a 
large dry -goods store; he boarded at home, and Thomas, 
named after his father, was attending school. There 
was a singularity in the personal resemblance of the 
girls to the father, who they said, was of very light 
complexion, blue eyes and light hair, and of the boys 
to the mother, who was a decided brunette. Mary, the 
eldest, was a woman fully developed, and possessed no 
ordinary attractions of person. In stature, she was 
neither too small nor too large, just right ; and her form, 
which was best shown by her simple dress, was all that 
an artiste could desire, as a perfect model ; and such a 
clear white complexion, exquisitely tinged with its 
indescribable vermilion, — and such lips ! w T hose exqui- 
site texture and living redness I can not compare to 
any thing in nature but themselves. Her teeth were 
regular and of a brilliant whiteness. Her hair was 
light, too light many would say for beauty, — but there 
was a fineness, a rich glossiness of color which so well 
became her blonde complexion, that it seemed to me 



126 Lenderman's Adventures among 

no other hair would look so beautiful on Mary. Her 
eyes were large, blue, and full of expression ; her 
whole soul could be read in their crystal depths. To 
look into her eyes seemed like being admitted behind 
the frail curtains of the mind, — into its hidden and 
spiritual depths. Mary's description would answer for 
her sister Sarah, allowing for that ripening of the 
budding maiden into the full blown flower of woman- 
hood. Mary was too handsome to be exposed con- 
tinually to the public gaze ; the fruit was too tempting 
to hang thus over the public thoroughfare. That rude 
and lawless hands would attempt to pluck it, was 
natural and inevitable. No doubt she sold many pairs 
of gentlemen's gloves, that she would not have sold, if 
she had not been Mary Vernon. 

But then she lost many lady customers, who did not 
wish to be mortified the second time by a comparison 
of their long, bony digits, with her soft tapering fingers, 
as she was always anxious to assist the lady purchasers 
in getting their gloves on the first time, — which is quite a 
formidable enterprise. It requires an exercise of no 
little amount of mechanical skill, and of the great- 
est patience, beside great discretion in the use of sug- 
gestions, as to the size that would probably suit; all 
ladies insisting on wearing Misses, or even children's 
sizes. Mary accomplished many "fits," that did not 
argue well for her faculty of distinguishing proportions ; 
often were the first and second joints of fingers covered 
for the whole finger; often was the "fit" so perfect that 
the wearer could not bend the finger; and often did 
Mary's heart beat with anxiety for fear the over-strained 
seams would give w r ay. Mary was conscious of attract- 
ing public notice, and it was the source of no little em- 
barrassment to her ; often was her beauty hightened 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 127 

by the irresistible blush sent to her cheek, by the in- 
tense gaze of an admiring customer. She would not thus 
have exposed herself to the public gaze if she had not 
felt it her duty to carry on this business for the support 
of the family. Her father having always been engaged 
in it, and having brought his family up to the business, 
it seemed the only occupation to them, by which they 
could get a support. The division of business in a large 
city into separate departments, confining operators to 
a single branch of a single business, disqualifies them 
from succeeding in any other calling. Indeed, few thus 
brought up have the courage to undertake any thing 
outside their narrow sphere. Mary, with the help of 
the elder brother, was supporting the family in indepen- 
dence and respectability. They were happy. When they 
closed their shop at night, and all sat down in the nice 
little parlor around the center-table, with its plain 
Argand lamp ; the mother and daughters sewing, and 
the elder brother reading from some interesting book, 
which he drew from the Mercantile Library, they 
presented a pleasant picture of domestic contentment 
and happiness. The mother, before retiring to rest, 
read a chapter from the well-used family Bible, and 
offered up a prayer for the benediction of her beloved 
family. Oh ! that this happy circle, consecrated to vir- 
tue and religion, might always have remained unbroken. 
Mary had attracted the attention, and excited the desires 
of an itinerant Spiritual lecturer, who, as I afterward 
learned, had a wife and three children living in western 
Pennsylvania — his name was Pollock. I heard a con- 
versation between him and Mrs. Moredock (a medium) 
one evening, the subject of which was to devise some 
plan to entice Mary Yernon to their meetings. " I have 
it, I have it!" said Mrs. Moredock; "I will make 



128 Lenderman's Adventures among 

inquiries as to her history : she has lost her father I know, 
for I have frequently heard people speak of it, who said 
they bought gloves of ' Mary,' as they familiarly call her, 
to aid her in supporting the family, the responsibility 
of which rests on her. When I have found out the 
peculiarities of her father, and his ordinary expressions, I 
will have his spirit up at our meetings, requesting me 
to bear his communication to his daughter." " That 's 
it! that 's it! you 've hit it, that 's just the plan, Mrs. 
Moredock," the lecturer exclaimed, heartily shaking the 
medium's hand. u When will you see her ; get it all fixed 
up by the next meeting, won't you ? Can't you have his 
spirit up to-night, and get an excuse for calling on Mary 
immediately? Come, you understand human nature 
well enough not to trap yourself; I'll risk it. Have his 
spirit right up, without delay," he said, putting his thumb 
to his nose in a very significant manner. " I am so 
impatient to become acquainted with that girl ; she has 
perfectly bewitched me; I can't think of any thing else, 
nor talk of any thing else, nor dream of any thing else 
but her. I shall go stark crazy if I don't get an intro- 
duction to her soon." Their plan was immediately 
put in execution. It was necessary to have the com- 
munication come before the whole Circle, for, as you are 
aware, there are some connected with the Circle who 
are so deluded as to firmly believe every thing they 
hear and see, to be true, and it was to blind these that 
they wished to have the communication come in regular 
form. There was no difficulty in finding the spirit of 
Mary's father. The spirit did not tell his name, how- 
ever, but told with much exactness where his daughter 
kept a shop to whom he wished his communication con- 
veyed. He wished his daughter to attend their meet- 
ings, that he could frequently hold converse with her, 



The Spikitualists and Free-Lovers. 129 

but he did not wish any other one of his family to hear 
of this communication but Mary. The medium was 
instructed to warn Mary, as she valued her father's love, 
not to give the least hint to her family of this wrsh to 
communicate with her, for reasons that he would tell 
her at some future time. The strictest secrecy as to 
this communication was enjoined on all present, as the 
spirit said it had some very wonderful revelations to 
make to his daughter ; and for some mysterious cause the 
communication of these revelations depended on their 
being kept a secret with those who should hear them. 
When the medium came out of her trance, "she knew 
nothing of what she had been talking about" of course: 
when questioned as to the young lady, Mary, a she 
had never heard of such a person." The spiritual leader, 
Mr. Pollock, then told her what the spirit had requested 
her to do, and for fear she would forget the address of 
the daughter, he wrote it down on a slip of paper and 
gave it to Mrs. Moredock. With much apparent reluc- 
tance she accepted the task of bearing this communica- 
tion to its address, as she said it "would undoubtedly 
subject her to ridicule ; but for the cause of truth, and 
to satisfy the minds of those present, she would consent 
to undertake this disagreeable task." There was much 
anxiety expressed by the members of the Circle as to 
the result of the communication. The initiated, of course, 
knew that it was a scheme for a new "acquisition," and 
the deluded were in intense anxiety to learn what new 
wonder they were about to witness. I could not sleep 
that night for thinking of Mary Yernon. I once fell in 
a doze, and I saw her approaching a frightful precipice, 
with hands and eyes uplifted, appearing to be following 
an object in the air. She saw not the abyss before her ; 
another step and she would plunge headlong over its 



130 Lenderman's Adventures among 

brink. I screamed, jumping from my bed ; I trembled 
with excitement, and a cold perspiration covered me. 
I dared not close my eyes in sleep again for fear I would 
see that dreadful vision. I thought it a warning from 
Heaven. I resolved to go and tell Mary the plot that 
was being laid for her. After breakfast I did go, re- 
solved to save her, but, finding Mary busy with a 
customer, I went home. In the afternoon I returned, 
and as I glanced in the store, I saw Mary at the 
farther end of the room, with fascinated eyes, riveted 
on the countenance of the enchantress. Mrs. More- 
dock was pouring into the ear of the fascinated vic- 
tim, the seductive words of her art, which she had 
become so skillful in using. Again I retraced my 
steps. Circumstances happened to prevent my calling 
again, and at the next "Circle" the first object that 
drew my attention was the beautiful Mary Vernon. 
Oh ! it struck a painful crimination to my heart ; I felt 
guilty that I had not warned her, but I resolved to do 
it yet. Marked attention was paid to her especially by 
the two that were conspiring together for her ruin. 
" She 's here ; you 're a gem and no mistake," Pollock 
said to the medium in a low voice, as they went into a 
back room to concert further operations. I followed 
them secretly, and heard what they said : " We 've got 
her now," he continued, "if we only follow up our suc- 
cess. I suppose you 've got the right kind of'commu- 
nication' fixed up." " Oh, yes ! I scraped acquaintance 
with a washerwoman, who lives just back of Mary's shop, 
under the pretense of getting clothes washed, and I 
learned the whole history of Mary's father, and I have 
got several of his sayings by heart ; and I know things 
that he did, for this woman washed and sewed for 
Mary's father for four or five years." " Don't you think 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 131 

the woman will suspect you for making so many inqui- 
ries?" "Did you ever know any one to suspect Mrs. 
Moredock ?" This answer seemed to assure the lec- 
turer, for he gave the medium's hand a very hearty and 
familiar squeeze. " I will consign her to you to-night 
if nothing happens," the medium continued. "But with 
the dangers of navigation excepted, as I believe ship- 
ping men say. If you don't i deliver the package in like 
good order, without delay, as per mark in margin,' it 
will not be my fault. You see I can use commercial as 
well as spiritual phrases ; if you had made out as many 
false shipping bills as I have for a certain fancy estab- 
lishment in this city, you could wield their abbreviated 
slang as well as I can. 

" Come let 's go to work ; we Spiritualits are consistent 
in our opposition to the Bible, by working while the 
night lasts instead of the day." Taking the lecturer by 
the hand, she approached the door. Just as she put her 
hand on the knob, she whispered to him in a low voice : 
" Now, if I help you in securing your prize, remem- 
ber, you must return the compliment." "You needn't 
fear that," he assured her, sealing the promise with 
a kiss on her flabby lips, which penance he did through 
hopes of future reward. Mary sat in the singular group 
around her, with contending feelings struggling in her 
breast. She did not feel satisfied that she was doing 
right. Notwithstanding the familiarity and compli- 
ments the company paid her, she was still and sad ; 
she was thinking of the dear mother she had left with- 
out asking her permission ; of her sisters and brothers, 
whom she had deceived with an excuse for her absence 
this evening. This was the first time she had withheld 
a thought from her mother, and she felt the painful up- 
braiding of a reproving conscience. Oh, that first sin ! 



132 Lenderman's Adventures among 

that first dereliction from duty, — that first step from the 
right path ; what awful consequences does it involve. 
The small trivial beginning of error, when the breach 
is once made, insignificant though it be, how quickly it 
widens, — how soon are the barriers of virtue washed 
away by the rushing torrent of sin ! How sensitive is 
conscience, that monitor of the soul, at the first indiscre- 
tion! how quick she tells the heart! how persistently 
she holds up the first blot on the heretofore untarnished 
sheet ! how she implores the erring mortal to w r ash it 
out! how earnestly and tearfully she supplicates ! Oh, 
listen to her ! Be moved by her tears ! Retrace quickly 
that first wrong step, and thank, with tender gratitude, 
that guardian angel of thy soul, rejoiced as thou art at 
thy return ! Mary felt that she had sinned ; she had 
suffered herself to be tempted from the path of duty, 
although the persuasions seemed to have come from a 
higher than earthly obligations — from her spirit father. 
But, young woman ! whoever thou art, believe not that 
spirit which tells you to deceive a mother — it is devilish. 
Hear not the communication that is to be kept from thy 
mother, — it will bring harm to thee ; flee it as you value 
your peace. Mary was unused to such scenes as this ; 
she had never attended a " Circle " before ; . she was not 
accustomed to hear the spirits of the dead talked of with 
the same indifference as we would speak of an every- 
day companion: she was shocked at such unnatural 
familiarity; she could not imagine how people could 
be so gay and trifling in their talk and actions,when 
professing to be engaged in such holy inquiries. A 
" Circle" was soon formed around the table, and as previ- 
ously arranged, Mrs. Moredock soon rose to her feet, 
and went through with the twitchings and Winkings 
supposed to be necessary, in order to become Spiritual- 



The Spiritualist^ and Feee- Lovers. 133 

ized. Mary sat in 6ilent astonishment, when the me- 
dium closed her eyes and commenced speaking in a 
slow, measured voice. When asked by the lecturer what 
spirit was then in communication with her, and she re- 
plied the spirit of Mr. Vernon, Mary involuntarily 
shuddered at the horrid thought ; she grasped the table 
spasmodically with both hands, and gazed spell-bound 
in the medium's face ; her fair form trembling with emo- 
tion, and the drops of perspiration starting from her 
pale forehead. "I would speak to Mary," the spirit 
continued; "tell her I am happy, and long to see my 
family here, — but one thought troubles me, it is for you 
Mary, my dearest child." Mary held her breath, at 
these solemn words. The stream of life seemed stopped 
in its ruddy course, expectant of some startling revela- 
tion. "Mary, snares are being laid for thee. Beware 
of them ! There is a being who will deliver thee from 
them, — who will protect thee ; I commend thee to him ; 
he sits nearest thee ; obey him, respect him, and it will 
be well with thee." 

A deadly paleness and relaxation came over the sink- 
ing form of the devoted one. The arms of the destroyer 
bore her from the room. She revived. A carriage 
was brought. Mary was sent (home?) Did she go 
alone ? Alas, she did not. I reproached myself that I 
had been so cowardly, so unfeeling as I almost called it, 
to let that innocent being be thus bound with the subtle 
cords of her enemies and borne to the slaughter. I 
intended to have broken the plot to her before this 
meeting. I intended to have done it before she left the 
house, but I had delayed, and she was snatched from 
me ; still I hoped it was not too late ; Mary appeared to 
be calm, and 6elf-possessed when she left ; and I could 
not believe that anv thing would happen her that night, 
12 



134: Lenderman's Adventures among 

although I did not feel perfectly easy, or satisfied; I 
had seen so much villainy practiced by these devils in 
human shape, that I shuddered. I resolved that no- 
thing should stop me from doing my duty to my fair 
sister on the morrow. It should be my first duty in 
the morning. I would not leave her till I had told her 
all. Perhaps many will sneer at my solicitude on 
Mary's account, while I remained in such vile servitude 
myself; they will ask, Why did you not have some 
solicitude for yourself? Alas, it was the miserable con- 
dition that I was in, that made me feel for those who 
were yet free, but who were being drawn into the vortex 
where I had been wrecked; I felt that it was well worth 
my exertions to save a sister from the world of misery 
I had endured. I did go the next morning, but I found 
the neat little glove shop, which was always open before 
its neighbor's, closed. I heard the wailing of a female 
voice in the room above, — several persons were standing 
about the door in anxious conversation. I drew near, 
and learned that Mary Yernon was missing. Presently 
the shop door opened, Sarah came out weeping, in 
extreme distress. "Oh! have you found her! — have you 
found her! Oh, what shall we do !" her brothers came 
up at this moment, and with swimming eyes, they 
sobbed, — "We can't hear any thing of Mary." How 
my heart smote me, while witnessing this scene of woe ; 
I almost accused myself of being her destroyer. What 
should I do ; I knew not ; my heart sank within me ; 
my courage was gone, I left the stricken ones; every 
inquiry was made after Mary. Sympathizing and 
active friends, — the police, — the press enlisted heartily 
in the search for the lost one; but in vain ! Guysot took 
the precaution, as soon as he heard of the excitement that 
was being raised on account of Mary's disappearance, 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 135 

to go to all who were present at our last meeting, and 
enjoin the strictest secrecy on the subject. An incident 
happened at a certain second class hotel, on the night of 
Mary's disappearance, to which the police attached some 
importance, and which revealed the whole of Mary's 
sad fate to me, as plainly as though I had witnessed it. 
About one o'clock, on the night of her disappearance, 
a hack stopped at the door of this hotel, — the driver 
entered the bar-room with his hat drawn over his eyes, 
and aroused the porter, saying, — a gentleman with his 
wife, (who was so feeble he could not leave her) wanted a 
room immediately. He had just brought them from 
the cars. The gentleman, with the help of the driver, 
carried the woman, whose face was covered with a 
thick handkerchief, to the room, the porter showing the 
way. The porter said the carriage and the guests 
smelled strongly of something he had frequently 
smelled at the drug-store. The woman appeared to be 
perfectly insensible, uttering a faint groan occasionally 
as they bore her along. The porter thought it singular 
that the stranger did not want a physician called. The 
stranger said, that his wife was subject to such spells ; 
and that she would soon revive. He wished to go on 
the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad on the morning 
express, and charged the porter expressly, not to neglect 
calling him in time. The woman was laid on the bed 
in the room, and then the stranger went down stairs, — 
saw the hackman off, — paid his bill at the office, keep- 
ing his hat down over his face, and a shawl muffled 
up closely around his neck, so that the porter nor 
the clerk could give any description of his counte- 
nance. After charging the porter again, not to forget 
him, he went up stairs. He was awakened at the 
proper hour. A lady occupied the room adjoining his, 



136 Lendekman's Adventures among 

and the raps of the porter awakened her. She was 
6tartled by a female voice uttering in .tones of fright : 
"Oh, what is this? where am I?" and then a scream. 
The lady was in her bed and listened, while a sensation 
of horror thrilled through her system. " That Scream," 
6aid she, " was the most heart-piercing burst of agony 
that I ever heard." A man's voice was trying to calm 
the agonized one. She faintly heard him say: " Come, 
we must be off. It is all over with now. It can't be 
helped. I am sorry for it myself, but we must make 
the best of it. If we stay here we will be disgraced 
forever ; there is only one way, — to get away as soon as 
possible." "Oh, my mother! my mother! my mother!" 
came from that mysterious bed-chamber, in tones that 
would melt the hardest heart. " I burst into tears," the 
lady said; "I seemed to feel instinctively, that one of 
my sex was experiencing the first awakening from the 
sleep of sin." " Come, we have no time to lose, or 
we shall be left! — there is the omnibus!" And they 
left the room. 

Shall I attempt to tell of the sufferings of that 
stricken family ! It were vain. No pen can describe 
them, no heart can feel them, except it has felt them. 
If we did not know that the ways of God are just, we 
would be tempted to ask, Why are such afflictions for 
the virtuous ? But still they hoped, — Oh! that gleam of 
celestial light, brightening our path through life, with- 
out which our afflictions would be insupportable, — they 
hoped they would yet see Mary. The little shop was 
closed! Many a disappointed eye turned from the bar- 
red shutters ; many an inquiry was asked of the "pretty 
glove seller." No more the happy group gathered 
around the evening table, — every thing was neglected, 
the mother, — the daughter,— the brothers did nothing 



The Spiritualists and Frke^Lovers. 137 

but mourn the absent one, their affliction was preying on 
them. A bout two weeks after the disappearance of Mary, 
in one of the most retired villages of Illinois, an incident 
happened that quite horrified the quiet little burgh. A 
beautiful female was found dead in her room at the vil- 
lage tavern, — an empty two ounce vial was lying on the 
floor, which she had obtained from a doctor's shop the 
day before filled with laudanum. Her husband was 
not to be found. On examining her underclothes, they 
were found marked Mary Vernon. Among the first who 
read this incident in the papers, was the eldest brother, 
for he had mastered his feelings so as to make con- 
tinual search and inquiries for his lost sister. He 
reeled to the floor on reading this, as if taken with 
some deadly sickness. Kind friends tried to break the 
cruel news to the mother, but she comprehended it all; 
she was seized with a convulsion, from which she never 
revived. She spoke not a word, nor seemed to compre- 
hend what was passing around her. That same night 
she breathed her last. Sarah is now a lunatic in one 
of our asylums. She attracts the sympathy of every 
visitor by her pure, angelic features, ever moved 
in supplication for "Mary." The smiles that oft 
disported in joyous radiance over those bright features, 
have fled, — -fled forever. Melancholy, deep, lasting, 
relieved but by the hope of death fills her shattered 
mind. The brothers are separated and working for 
strangers, — with no mother to cherish, — no sister to love. 
Oh, who can estimate the woe unutterable brought on 
this one family, once so happy ! Can a system that has 
fellowship with God, bring such misery ? What profan- 
ity against Heaven, to claim for it a celestial origin ! It 
is earthly, — sensual, — bestial, — devilish. It was born 
of deception, — baptized in lust, and it leads, — to HelL 



138 Lendekman's Adtentcbes among 



CHAPTER XI. 

Honest Believers in Spiritualism. How Mediums are made. Where 
Spiritual Communications come from. The Credulity of Spirit* 
ualists. Histoiy of Mr. Levers and his wife. Sincere Believers. 
How this Delusion changes the Character. The Bible denounced. 

As a relief to the deception and villainy which 
characterized most of the members of our "Circle," there 
were some who came to the meeting froin pure inten- 
tions. They were honest in their belief of the doctrines 
of their sect ; they placed the fullest confidence in the 
mediums' communications ; they believed them to be 
really under spiritual influence ; and they have become 
so deluded, tampering with the forbidden fruit of knowl- 
edge, that its poisoning effects can be distinguished in 
their erratic actions ; in their implicit credence of things 
which appear visionary, absurd, and even ridicu- 
lous to others. An impertinent stripling, or super- 
annuated hag with forehead as brazen as the front 
of Mars, will pour forth a stream of transcendental 
nonsense, stolen almost word for word from the works 
of Swedenborg, or some of his copyists, or will pretend 
to personate some deceased human, in language and 
commonplace sayings that any person, with eyes open, 
could do. These deluded, sincere believers in Spiritual- 
ism, with open eyes and mouth drink in with avidity 
all this ridiculous nonsense, and pronounce it wonder- 
ful! wonderful!! most wonderful!!! "How can any 
one see these extraordinary manifestations, and longer 
doubt their supernatural origin?" And it often ap- 
peared to me, that the more silly and commonplace 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 139 

the pretended manifestations, the more credulous these 
deluded ones were. I declare, although I have seen and 
heard all these things, — these inexplicable phenomena, — 
these table tippings, these knockings, these unknown 
tongues, these fiddlings and drummings and horn blow- 
ings, these disembodied preachings, and all the vaunted 
doings of the spirits, I have yet to witness a phenomenon 
that could not be performed by natural means; that could 
not have originated from natural causes. But, I am 
wandering from what I intended to say. I intended to 
tell you the history of a couple of earnest believers in 
Spiritualism, and the effect that this delusion has had 
in the disorganization of their minds ; the breaking up 
of old and cherished associations, — the utter destruction 
of that celestial peace of soul they once possessed. 

Mr. Levers and his wife were regular attendants at 
all spiritual meetings. There was no doubt, but that 
they were sincere believers of what they professed. 
They had no other motive in devoting themselves to 
this delusion, but their belief in it. No argument, 
or unfolding of its deceptions, could waver their faith. 
Before they became intoxicated with its fascinating 
mysteries, they were called sensible and pious people. 
Indeed, they were considered the very pillars of the 
church to which they belonged. 

Mr. Levers spent much of his time in the organization 
of new churches of his denomination (Baptist), and often 
was he cramped financially on account of his too liberal 
donations for church purposes. Many is the splendid 
structure that had its origin in Mr. Levers' activity and 
munificence ; many the happy congregation that owes 
its organization to the zeal of this now despised brother ; 
many the eloquent preacher that received his education 
from the liberality of Mr. Levers; and many the insti- 



140 • Lenderman ? s Adventures among 

tution of learning that has been founded and endowed 
principally by his untiring exertions in the cause of 
truth and religion. If a church was to be built, Brother 
Levers was applied to. If any work was to be done, 
or money raised, Brother Levers w r as the man. The 
most ambitious members of the church were perfectly 
willing that Brother Levers should attend to these du- 
ties. Mrs. Levers was the model of what a Christian 
woman should be — she was intelligent ; the deep gleam 
of her searching black eye was proof of this. She was 
benevolent — of which the poor around her were grateful 
witnesses. She was pious — none doubted it. There 
was a placid serenity in her countenance that told of 
Heaven- ward thoughts. She was the moving spirit of all 
female benevolent enterprises, of missionary, educational 
and sewing societies. All the female members of her 
church depended on Sister Levers taking the lead in 
every good cause. She was looked up to as with a 
sacred respect. Those near her could not but be im- 
pressed with a feeling of holy admiration which damped 
frivolity, and turned the mind to holy thoughts. Such 
were Mr. and Mrs. Levers ; their home was a home for 
the friendless; a sanctuary for religion, sacred to all 
virtues. Every morning and evening were the holy 
Scriptures read with an implicit confidence in their in- 
spiration and their saving efficacy ; thrice daily did the 
fervent prayer ascend from that domestic temple, dedi- 
cated to the Most High, for pardon, for grace, for mercy, 
for blessings on all men. Oh, it was a happy home! 
God dwelt there. It was but one remove from that 
perfect home above, to which they looked with the ardent 
longing of a sanctified heart. But alas ! how changed ! 
Can it be possible that that is Mr. Levers whom you 
hear jesting with the most sacred doctrines of the Chris- 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 141 

tian religion ! Can it be he that is scoffing at the apos- 
tles and their God-leader ? The heart shrinks back in 
icy horror at his blasphemous freedom with holy things ! 
From the champion of religion he has descended to its 
most virulent calumniator. As formerly, he was not at 
rest unless engaged in some good work, now,he is not at 
rest unless battering at the very walls of Zion he helped 
to raise. No more is his silvered head seen the earliest 
in the temple of God ; no more is his powerful voice 
heard as a leader among the followers of Christ! As 
he walks the streets, no hand of fellowship grasps his 
own with the endearing recognition of " brother ;" and at 
home the melancholy change is more touching. Where 
is the family altar that burned with holy devotion for 
two score years ! Where is the morning and evening 
incense of prayer that was wont to ascend to the Most 
High? Where the Book of God? Banished! That 
altar in ruins. The censer of prayer cold and corroded. 
The Book of God dust-covered, and food for the moth. 
And that saint-like woman ! that model of the Chris- 
tian virtues ! dispenser of charities ! she whom the poor 
called blessed ! she with countenance radiant with in- 
tellect, and heart overflowing with love! Where is 
she ? At home ? yes, at the place which once was home ; 
silent, melancholy, brooding over she knows not what ! 
Her eye dull, or at times flashing with unwonted bril- 
liancy; her cheek pale, emaciated, unchangeably sad. 
Where is the halo of Heaven that once irradiated that 
countenance! where the happy smile of internal peace? 
where the words of comfort that fell from her lips like 
nectar on the parched and troubled soul? Gone! all 
gone, and the temple left desolate. The phantoms of a 
diseased mind now flit silently through its deserted 
halls. 

13 



142 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Does she unite, as of yore, with her sisters in works 
of love and usefulness ? Does she find Heaven in their 
society ? No. She shuns them ; she stays at home for 
fear of meeting them on the street. Is this woman and 
her husband happy? No. They are in torment; every 
day to them is a hell. And yet they hug the chains 
that bind them ; they cherish the greedy scorpion that 
is gnawing at their very souls. What influence has 
wrought this unhappy change ? — Spiritualism ; tam- 
pering with God's prerogatives ; reaching forth to grasp 
the fire of Heaven before the time. Letting go the an- 
chor of Hope — the Word of God — and drifting, helm- 
less on the chartless waters of speculative futurity ! 
% * # # 

As I was clearing out some papers from a closet 
yesterday, I noticed a package of letters addressed to 
Guysot, and mailed from different places in Ohio, Indi- 
ana and Illinois. I had the curiosity to open them, and 
after glancing over their contents, I thought I would 
send them to you ; they are, as you will perceive, from 
an itinerant Spiritual Lecturer, a Mr. Anson — and his 
assistant, Miss Jamison, a " trance medium." — From 
the above-mentioned package, that Matilda sent me, I 
selected the following letters, as showing in their own 
words the base deception that these traveling ghost- 
raisers practice on a too credulous public. 



Tiie Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. Ii3 



CHAPTER XII. 

Selections from a Package of " Confidential Letters " from an Itinerant 
Spiritual Lecturer, and his Female Medium, to a Spiritual Leader in 
the city. How the People are humbugged. An account of the Lec- 
turer's Adventures in different country villages. "Astonishes the 
Natives." How the Spirits of deceased Persons sometimes tell such 
straight Stories. Interesting Communications from the dead Merchant. 
A Thief discovered. How a Medium got " Trapped," and how she 
got out of it. Valuable advice to Spiritual Lecturers. The Fellow 
who was bound to see a Table moved. What kind of Tables 
and Rooms Spirits like. Wear and tear of Conscience. Spiritual 
Fools. A handsome young Widow who wanted a Communication — 
and got one. The Spiritualist who was starving himself to Death. 
The Widow whose Husband had visited her after death. Another 
deranged Spiritualist. A rich Story about a Widower who married 
his Wife's Sister through the influence of Spiritualism. How the 
Lecturer was paid. Advantage of carrying a Gold Watch. How 
Lecturing on Spiritualism develops the creative faculties. How the 
Lecturer came near losing his Medium, Suse. Villainies of Spiritual 
Lecturers. Connection of Free-Love with Spiritualism. A not 
very flattering description of a majority of Spiritualists. Their 
Motives. Continuation of Matilda's Manuscript. 

R , Ohio, . 

Dear Charley: — 

And co-worker in the heavenly science of Spiritual- 
ism (in a horn). Ha! ha! ha! Aint that rich! I say, 
Charley ; what do you think will become of us poor 
devils for humbugging the Dear People so egregiously ? 
Well, I really didn't think they had such awful gullets. 
When you told me that the bigger the humbug the easier 
they would swallow it, I thought you certainly were 
joking ; but I find it no joke. I find wonder-eaters (and 
these are the ones we are after, you know), like ana- 
condas, are not satisfied at a reasonable mouthful, they 



li± Lexderman's Adventures among 

want something that will dislocate the jaws in swallow- 
ing. When I first commenced lecturing — lecturing! 
what a farce ! quoting from Swedenborg ! jabbering 
nonsense committed to memory ! I confess I don't un- 
derstand half what I say myself, — when I first com- 
menced lecturing I thought I would temper the blast to 
the skins of the innocent sheep I intended to shear, but 
I soon found that this wouldn't do ; it made no impres- 
sion. I commenced blowing harder and harder, and I 
found, to my astonishment, the harder I blowed the 
better they stood it; the better it pleased them. We 
are now having a very interesting, that is, a very profit- 
able time here in this place. By inquiring round I 
learned the exact history of several deceased persons, well 
known in the neighborhood ; this, as some would con- 
sider unimportant knowledge to a medium, I thought 
best to communicate to our medium. It couldn't pos- 
sibly do her any harm, you know. You'd better believe 
we " astonished the natives" here by the wonderful 
revelations from the village churchyard. We have re- 
markable good success with the spirit of a merchant 
who died here two or three years ago with the cholera — 
a man that was well known in the community. By 
good luck I came across one of his old clerks on the 
cars, while I was coming here, and I pumped out of 
him a regular reservoir of " spiritual stock," to com- 
mence operations with, and to draw on in case of dearth, 
or difficulty from other sources. The spirit of this accom- 
modating knight of the yard-stick, has been a perfect 
" godsend" (excuse this sacrilegious expression). We 
were supposed to know no more of him than the man 
that was seen eating cucumbers in the moon. Some of 
the dead merchant's intimate acquaintances tried to 
stump us, but we happened to be " posted" on the very 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 145 

points they were anxious to learn about. It seems that 
there was a suspicion of the merchant having been rob- 
bed, when on his death-bed, by persons in attendance, 
(some of whom were relatives,) inasmuch as all mer- 
chants are supposed to be lined and stuffed with bank 
bills at all times (a most decidedly wrong impression). 
We knew that his relatives were rich. Here was a 
chance to make a grand stroke. We noticed some 
anxious faces in the audience, when the spirit of the 
merchant was examined on this point. The spirit an- 
swered unhesitatingly that he had some money on hand 
when he died, but not so much as was generally sup- 
posed. He exculpated his rich relations from all sus- 
picion, and said that it was a poor despised woman, who 
worked as a servant girl, that took the money. "I 
know who it is ; I always thought it," was heard simul- 
taneously in different parts of the room. But we came 
near having all our glory knocked into a cocked-hat, 
by a question put by a villainous scamp who knew that 
women were not very reliable bank-note reporters. He 
asked Suse, our medium, how many bills there were on 
a certain bank (naming it) in the merchant's money. I 
unfortunately happened to be at some distance from her, 
and she unfortunately was somewhat elated and venture- 
some, from her remarkable "hits." "I coughed, hem- 
med and hawed," as much as I dared, to put Suse on 
her guard, but she was insensible to laryngeal premo- 
nitions ; out it came — thirteen bills. Now I knew, and 
the rascal who put the question knew, that there was 
no such bank in existence, at the time of the merchant's 
death. I hastened to Suse, on pretense of "charging" 
her more fully (which was verbally, if not mesmerically, 
most true). I whispered — u say Atlantic Bank, New 
York." I noticed the questioner giggling and whisper- 



146 Lenderman's Adventures among 

ing to those near him, to let them know how very sharp 
he was in entrapping the medium. Drawing his face 
down to the extent of its elongability, and in a regular 
circuit-rider's drawl, he repeated the question: "I un- 
derstand you that there were thirteen bills on the At- 
lantic Bank, Indiana ; now, of what denomination were 
they ?" Suse, having taken the hint, replied, I had no 
money at all on the Atlantic Bank, Indiana, it was on 
the Atlantic Bank, New York. The sharp questioner 
lost his edge as suddenly as if he had sawed on a nail ; 
and what had liked to have proved our discomfiture, 
worked to our greatest advantage. A medium should 
always keep in mind the old saw, "never venture into 
deep water." When the audience persists in calling up 
a spirit that the medium knows nothing about, she had 
better not attempt to answer direct questions. She can 
go on till she tires her hearers with the legitimate stere- 
otyped spiritual communications, giving lots of good 
advice, etc., which would be perfectly appropriate, as 
coming from any spirit, and be sure to keep talking up 
to the very moment when the spirit leaves her ; and she 
might give the spirit a boost on leaving, so as not to 
allow time for troublesome questions. In using the 
feminine gender, while speaking of mediums, I do so 
from the conviction that none should travel as me- 
diums but females ; because more respect is paid them 
than men ; people will submit to being humbugged 
by a woman with much better grace than by a man. 
There was one ill-bred hound, though, in the little town 

of S , that had no respect for persons or petticoats. 

He insisted on " seeing something done; he had paid 
his dime to see something, and he was bound to see 
something or raise a fuss." 

He wanted to see a table move without any one 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 147 

moving it, — the fool. In vain we told him, and read 
from Spiritual authorities, that such physical demon- 
strations can not be shown at will, and on all occasions ; 
that they require a select company, and to be in close 
proximity to the table, and above all, that light is deci- 
dedly inimical to spiritual physics ; that it requires 
an uneven floor, and tables of peculiar construction. 
(Waivt I telling the truth that time?) We told him that 
the spirits were very particular in their choice of instru- 
ments and places ; why, we could not tell any more 
than we could tell why a thousand other phenom- 
ena took place, under very singular circumstances. 
Although we reasoned like a veritable philosopher, this 
churl would not be satisfied. We offered to give him his 
dime back again ; but the obstinate fellow would not 
take it. Although I kept a pleasant face, and swallowed 
the fellow's impertinence ; I just wished I had him out 
doors about two minutes, with a good cudgel in my 
hand. I'll bet I would have satisfied him with "physi- 
cal demonstrations." Spiritual lecturers, and sleight- 
at-hand performers (you know it's all the same) are 
bothered more with these cabbage-heads, one or two of 
which they will find in every little town, than with any 
other inconvenience. They think it is " smart" to in- 
terrupt the showman and bother him, knowing that 
he is greatly in the minority, and can't hurt them. 
These fellows are almost invariably the most arrant 
cowards ; barking and snarling, wolf-like, only when 
they have the crowd on their side. I finally got this 
fellow silenced, by telling him we would endeavor to 
get up a "Circle" on the following evening, and show 
him some " table moving what was table moving." On 
getting home, we found that our arrangements were 
such as to require our immediate departure ; so I fear 



143 Lenderman's Adventures among 

the searcher after physical signs was disappointed. 
But my foolscap is used up, and I must bid you good- 
by. I see lots of sport in this business, though I get 
put to my trumps sometimes. Yours in " haste," and 
we must be in haste with this hobby ; we must put him 
through $ith whip and spur, and "clucks and bit- 
jerkings, for he will be entirely stove up in a year or 
two. 55 

Yours spiritually and confidentially. 

Prof. F. Anson, l. s. 

P. S. , Did you know I have dubbed myself with a 
Prof? Please recollect this small item in your super- 
scriptions. 

The next letter was dated. 

C Co., 0. 

Dear Charley: — 

We are making the thing pay first rate. Good house 
last night. I am half a notion to raise the price half a 
dime. Ten cents is too little for singing the same old 
song night after night ; it's got to be rather stale to me ; 
much like the performances of a circus rider to one of the 
regular hands, — and then the wear and tear of conscience, 
in gulling the " dear people" with these ghost yarns. A 
spiritual lecturer has no business with a conscience. If 
he has that superfluity in his wardrobe, he had best 
leave it at home, to slip on when he is about laying off 
that common garment called the "mortal coil.' 5 And 
then the fear a lecturer is constantly in, of being 
"brought up standing" by some impertinent question! 
Our medium has however improved wonderfully. She 
is "up to snuff" with any of them, and she very seldom 
gets trapped. We have come across several persons 
in our travels, who have actually become deranged 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 149 

on this subject. There is no question of it. And it 
gives me a kind of twinge about the heart occasionally, 
to think I am helping to prepare others for the mad- 
house. But then I drive off these unpleasant thoughts, 
by saying they are fools anyhow, and if they didn't go 
crazy on this subject, they would on some other. These 
fools, that are carried away w T ith Spiritualism, are regular 
bores. They insist on calling on you and expect you to 
exhibit as much enthusiasm at your private rooms, as you 
do in the lecture-room. It is exhausting enough, God 
knows, to keep up appearances in public, without being 
bored with these fanatics at our lodgings. I wouldn't 
mind it, if they were all as good company as a young 
-widow that called on us yesterday, to see if she couldn't 
get a communication from her deceased husband. I told 
her to call again this afternoon. In the meantime, I have 
learned all about her history, and if I don't have her 
most effectually in my power, I never will deliver 
another spiritual lecture. By-the-way, she w T ould be 
a star No. 1, in your galaxy of beauty, — oh, excuse 
me, your " Circle." What do you say? Is your con- 
stellation full ? She is young, not twenty, brown hair, 
brilliant eyes and teeth, perfect form, good color, country 
raised and healthy. I can send her to you, to get fuller 
information from ilie spiritual world, if you wish. 
u If you have any occasion," telegraph to me some- 
thing about the crops. I shall be here three or four 
days yet. We are going to perform next Sunday even- 
ing in the court-house ; although some of the "straight 
backs" have tried to kick up a fuss about it. We find 
that we can get the use of most any public building, by 
first sending free tickets to all the directors and their 
families ; and some of them have aw T ful big families. 
I have noticed several men not thirty years old, with a 



150 Lenderman's Adventures among 

"member of the family," for nearly every year of their 
lives. But it's all right, you know. " Live and let live 5 ' 
is our motto, or you my leave out the v if you wish. 
There is a poor fellow here, who is starving himself to 
death, from some villainous medium telling him that 
his mother in the spirit- world, wishes him to do it, as 
it will be a means of admitting him directly into her 
sphere when he dies ; which will not be long, I imagine, 
as the fellow is so weak now, that he can't stand alone. 
I say, Charley, are you a believer in the new doctrine 
of our sect, that deceased husbands can visit carnally 
their living consorts? I am (of course, I am). I have 
come across a verification of this doctrine in the case of 
a certain widow Brown (?) whose husband was supposed 
to have left this w r orld some fifteen months ago. But it 
appears "he's round" somewhere yet. They sent a 
poor devil off* to the lunatic asylum from a little town 
about ten miles from here, last week. He was green 
enough to believe a medium, that got up an awful yarn 
on the credit of his father's spirit. 

About the richest thing I've seen, since leaving the 
Queen city I have not told you yet. It's too good to keep. 

When we were at M , an old codger, about fifty, 

came to us at our rooms, and taking me one side, told 
me he wanted a little confidential talk. Now says he : 
u I know this Spiritualism is all a humbug, and so do 
you." I immediately stood on my dignity, of course, 
as I should have done. I asked him rather indignantly 
what he meant. He immediately put his finger to 
his nose, performing certain gyratory movements, the 
meaning of which everybody knows, saying, "Now, 
don't take on. I know it all. I am a Spiritualist, 
one of the right kind ; one that makes capital out of it ; 
and I promise to make capital out of it for you, if you 






The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 151 

will favor me in a small matter." At this 1 rather sub- 
sided a little from my exalted position. Says he, "I 
am a widower ; my wife has been dead three months ; I 
am tired of this ' single blessedness, 5 as they call it. I 
call it single cursedness. I want to marry my wife's 
sister. She's a splendid girl, — only seventeen, — and 
beside, to tell you the truth ; I 've run through with 
my wife's portion, and if I can't get another portion 
soon I'm a 'goner,' so far as dollars and cents are con- 
cerned. Now this younger sister and her parents have 
scruples about a man marrying his wife's sister ; and 
the young minister of their church (Presbyterian), the 
meddlesome puppy, has told them it is not orthodox. 
I believe the scamp wants to get the girl himself, or he 
wouldn't take such particular pains to instruct thern 
on this particular doctrine, for he is at no great pains 
to instruct them on any other. They were at your 
meeting night before last, and were considerably stag- 
gered at the communication from the spirit of Mr. , 

(by the way, who posted you up so well) !" I think, sir, 
you joke rather too freely ; we remarked (not thinking 
it necessary to get mad about it). "Now, sir, I want to 
tell you all about my wife's history. Then I want you 
to get up a private Circle, to which this girl and her 
mother will be invited. I want you to have my wife's 
spirit up (not in the way she used to get it up herself 
though, for that would knock all our calculations on the 
head). I want you and your medium, to fix up a 
communication expressing her desire that 1 should 
marry her younger sister; — you understand what I want. 
I have got a gold watch worth a hundred and fifty dol- 
lars ; it is yours the day I marry that girl." 

By attentively studying the rascal while he was talk- 
ing, I was convinced that he was in earnest, and that 



152 Lenderman's Adventures among 

there would be no risk in entering into the arrangement, 
for he would be very clear of breaking his own head by 
divulging the matter. I asked to see the watch, not 
thinking it necessary to stand on my dignity any longer. 
The idea of flourishing a gold watch, was quite a temp- 
tation, I assure you; for our finances have not risen to 
the gold watch point yet. I did carry a galvanized one 
on special occasions, till the gilding began to wear off. 
You know that a man can not be any thing now-a-days 
without a gold watch. It is indispensable. It is an 
" open sesame" to a thousand recognitions ; you don't 
know its magic power, because you were never without 
one. Try the experiment. Ride in an omnibus or car, 
or mix in any public assembly, displaying an old "Bull's 
Eye" occasionally, — people will shun you as they 
would a leper. 

I tell you, Charley, using a threadbare expression, a 
gold watch is a " great institution." Well, he took the 
watch from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a 
splendid time-piece. It was well worth its cost ; but it 
had " Maria" engraved on the back of it. " What is 
this, 5 ' said I. "Oh! It's only my wife's first name. Any 
silversmith can make that all right." I did not exactly 
like this "Maria." Although I left my conscience a* 
home, as I have recommended all other spiritual lecturers 
to do, still, some such thing as this will slightly prog 
me yet; however, we struck a bargain, I insisting on 
his letting me have the watch in my possession ; for, I 
thought, if he was mean enough to delude a woman, in 
the manner he proposed, he was mean enough to keep 
the watch, or to commit any other crime (don't " con- 
sider me in," for you know, I am only " following my 
legitimate profession," as the lawyers say). 

We maneuvered up the "Circle," just as we wished. 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 153 

The widower, of course, was not there. Every thing 
worked to our satisfaction. It would be interesting to 
tell you all the particulars, but I haven't time. Wo 
saw them married ; and I am now carrying the gold 

watch in my pocket, — though you needn't tell Mrs. 

who keeps a boarding-house on street, for I believe 

she is "posted," on law, enough to know that it does 
not consider gold watches indispensable articles in a 
gentleman's wardrobe. To be sure, I might go in for 
the " higher law" of public opinion, but I have no curi- 
osity to try legal experiments at present. I can make 
spiritual experiments pay much better. I've got a gold 
watch then. I feel one step more elevated in society ; 
but I don't like that " Maria" staring me in the face 
every time I take it out (which is pretty often ; you know 
that my appointments are such that I must needs know 
the exact minute). That " Maria" must come off at the 
first silversmith's shop. It has caused me to tell one lie 
already (which, you know, is quite mortifying). One of 
your regular long-nosed blue stockings, that are etern- 
ally thrusting said nose into you, would know who 
" Maria" was. I told her Maria was a beautiful young 
lady I saved from drowning; and this was a small 
memento which she obliged me to accept. Wasn't 
that a " pretty good one ?" I have got so I can tell some 
" pretty good ones," not to say "whappers." This 
Spiritual Lecturing is great for developing the enlarging 
and creative faculties. Ha! ha! ha! Charley, you 
must burn up my letters as soon as you 've read them, 
lest they fall into the hands of the Gentiles. 

Suse sends her love to you. By-the-way, I was afraid 
of losing Suse, last week. An addle-headed old fool, 
who wasn't any too smart before Spiritualism got hold 
of him, became perfectly crazy after " Suse." He is rich, 



154 Lenderman's Adventures among 

and hasn't any children ; — won't live very long : it was 
a strong temptation. I used all the persuasion I was 
master of to dissuade her, but she hung down her head 
and said nothing ; — just as a woman does when she i3 
bound to have her own way. 

I changed my tactics, threatening to " show her up 
to the old codger" (and I only had to tell the truth to do 
that) ; this worked like a charm ; so I packed up and left 
town while she was in the humor. 

Good-by. Yours, spiritually, 

Prof. F. Anson, l. s. 

The other letters from different places, in which 
Anson and his Suse had performed, were full of such 
serious tricks they had played off on credulous human- 
ity. " Bores," as he styled them, or those half-cracked 
believers, appeared to be his abhorrence. From these 
confidential letters of an operator in the shadowy 
science, it would seem, that in almost every place he 
visited, Spiritualism was used as a cloak for covering the 
most wicked intentions. Of course, he became inti- 
mately acquainted with the moving spirits (with a cor- 
poreal connection) of each Circle he visited, and these 
letters showed up their consummate villainy just as it 
was. He related many cases of seduction; speaking 
of them in a trifling, jocose manner, that would shock 
the sensibilities of any but the most abandoned. It 
appeared that the Free-Love philosophy had engrafted 
itself on almost every spiritual stock he came in contact 
with ; and the cases of husbands abandoning wives and 
children ; and of wives leaving their husbands, through 
the influence of this damning delusion, were truly piti- 
able and humiliating to our ideas of conjugal fidelity. 

A majority of the ringleaders of these spiritual cliques 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 155 

were old worn-out vessels of both sexes, whose capacity 
for retaining the juices of life had long since been lost, 
but who persisted in nursing the delusion that they were 
yet new, in spite of worn-out teeth, cheeks abraded of 
youthful paint, tops and bottoms used up, and sides 
sunken in. Instead of laying aside youthful manners, 
and adopting the quiet, resigned manners becoming age, 
they disgust the sensible by endeavoring to retain the 
frost-bitten and withered leaves of a departed summer. 
Not being able to appear attractive, and thus gratify 
their morbid taste for fruits out of season in ordinary 
healthy society, they greedily take up with this Spiritu- 
alism, which so blinds the eye of the affections, which 
so distorts the images of the heart, that their wrinkles, 
and snags, and sunken cheeks, and shining pates are 
lost sight of in the all-absorbing spirituality of Spiritu- 
alism. It is an extinguishing of the light which makes 
all of a color. 

The practical application of this principle in " phy- 
sical demonstrations," is but an emblem of the soul of 
the whole system. An extinguishing of the lights, a 
shutting of the eyes, an ignoring of the senses ; no 
wonder that fevered dry bones rush to this fountain to 
quench their burning thirst ; no wonder that wrinkled 
faces, not satisfied with their wrinkles, look, into this 
glass, that by some spirituo-optical delusion, puffs out 
those wrinkles ; no wonder that yellow complexions 
come to this flattering artist, that gives to their leathern 
cheeks the freshness of budding virginity. It is an 
asylum, or rather an earthly elysium, for all worn-out 
and stale humanity ; a bower of oblivion to all imper- 
fections. A green pasture for hide-bound and unshed 
staggerers. A hope for the despairing. If such with- 
ered and dried-up cases alone entered this asylum, it 



156 Lendeeman's Adventures among 

would be well. If bones only rattled against bones, and 
leathery cheeks creaked against leathery cheeks, there 
would be no harm in it, perhaps ; indeed, it would be a 
desideratum to society; a hospital, in which would be 
collected its diseased members, thus ridding it of their 
contagious afflictions ; but the really young, and beauti- 
ful, and innocent, — the warm hearted are seduced within 
the shadowy gates of this mystic garden. Their vision 
is changed \ the serpent, ever present as of old, leads 
them through the ambrosial bowers, to the tree of Life. 
They are enchanted with its beauty ; they long for its 
golden fruits. Their seducer is eloquent in its praise, — 
of its conferring immortal youth, omniscience and heav- 
enly bliss on all who eat of it ; — enraptured they partake. 
The destroyer's work is done ; he leaves them for others, 
who wait his attendance. * * * * 

Matilda's manuscript contained several other cases 
of mournfiil interest, — of want, abandonment, despair, 
madness, self-murder, loss of virtue and honor brought 
on unhappy victims by these hell-born monsters, ali- 
ased, " Spiritualism " and " Free-Love." The limits of 
this work, and the atrocity of some of the crimes there 
related, forbid the introduction of more of the sad cases 
she recorded. 



The Spiritualists and Feee-Loveks. 157 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Matilda sees an Advertisement in reference to her Parentage. The 
Lost Child. Mysteries of a City Post-office. Parents found. Going 
Home. A trip to the North with Matilda and Henriette. An intel- 
ligent Schoolmaster. An interesting Society of Spiritualists in North- 
western Ohio. The Schoolmaster gives an account of their doings. 
The Shoemaker whose Wife " rapped " herself to death. The rapping 
Bricklayer, and how he got his second Wife by the aid of Spiritual- 
ism. A "Prescribing Medium." Spiritual Medicine. Remarkable 
Spiritual Practice. Diarrheas, Toothaches and fresh Cuts cured. A 
very ludicrous description of a Country Landlord, who dealt in 
Spiritual Elixirs. A laughable scene, in which the Landlord gets 
" overhauled." A Country " Dicker." A Child killed by Spiritual 
Medicine. 

About a week after the departure of Mr. and Mrs. 
Beaumont, I received a note from Matilda, requesting 
me to call without delay. She met me at the door with 
"I am glad to see you." The sincerity of which ex- 
pression was fully indorsed by the pleased anxiety of 
her looks. She had a newspaper in her hand, and im- 
mediately referred me to an advertisement, which read 
as follows: " Information wanted of Matilda De Long, 
whom her parents supposed to be dead ; but they heard 
of her about a year ago, by the reading, in a Baltimore 
paper, the advertisement of her adopted parents in refer- 
ence to her sudden departure from them ; since which 
nothing has been heard from her. Any information 
concerning her will be most thankfully received by her 
afflicted parents. Address 

Ezra De Long, Ohio. 

"I have found my parents! Oh, I have a mother! 
How joyful, how happy I am ! God is too good to me 1 
14 



158 Lenderman's Adventures among 

A mother, a mother, I have a mother ! I want to go to 
her immediately," were some of Matilda's exclamations 
while I was reading the advertisement. I read the arti- 
cle, and re-read it. Although it was in a spiritual 
paper, I hoped it was all right ; and yet, a dark suspi- 
cion arose in my mind that this, though so plausible, 
might be a new plot, laid to involve her in other diffi- 
culties. I advised her to write to her supposed parents 
before going there. She was so confident with hope, 
that she could hardly bear to think of such a delay. 
The news was so good that she could not think of dis- 
appointment. She concluded, however, to follow my 
advice. Time passed slowly and drearily away, while 
she was waiting for an answer. The second day had 
scarcely passed, before she was running to the Post- 
office every three or four hours. I never could go there 
without meeting her. What a school is the Post-office 
to study the occupations, hopes and anxieties of hu- 
manity ! The business-man goes there in the morning 
with a burden resting on his mind of loans to be paid 
this day, greater than he has money to discharge. Hop- 
ing to receive remittances by mail to make up the defi- 
ciency ; with what a searching, anxious glance he looks 
in his box, — with what a nervous grasp he takes his 
letters and feels of them, hardly daring to break the 
seal. His skillful touch can detect those containing 
money: with an excitement that none but a business- 
man can feel, he tears open the envelop and first learns 
if it contains money, and how much, reserving the other 
contents to be read at leisure. An empty letter with, 
perhaps, the signature of a creditor, gives a gloomy 
appearance to his countenance; while a "fat" letter 
causes his face to shine with gladness. 

At the general delivery department, more partial- 



The SnitiTCALisTs and Free -Lovers. 159 

larly where the human family is divided off into "A's 
to ITs, I'b to Q's, and R's to Z's," can be seen all va- 
rieties of the species homo, with countenances moved 
by every variety of emotion. They wear, however, 
a troubled, anxious appearance generally; hope and 
gloomy anticipation commingled, prevailing, rather 
than certain joy, — indicating that we oftener expect to 
hear bad news than good. Here we meet with young 
men from the country, anxiously expecting letters from 
the "old man," on whose purse they are still depend- 
ing. Middle aged women, with a nervous anxiety 

inquire for Mrs. , hoping to hear from their absent 

husbands. And when the clerk carelessly fumbles 
over the letters, her eyes riveted on the remaining 
ones, as on a last hope, and when he comes to the last 
letter, and puts them all up without handing her one, 
with what downcast eye and sunken heart she turns 
from what was to her the temple of hope ! 

Day after day, with revived hope, she enters the 
office, and as often turns away disappointed. The 
clerks get to consider these anxious women " bores," 
and tell them that there is nothing for them, without 
looking ; they go away dissatisfied, thinking that there 
surely must be a letter. 

And how the contents of letters are greedily devoured 
before leaving the doors of the office ! I have seen 
exiles from the Emerald Isle, and from the " Father- 
land," weep over these bits of scribbled paper. What 
joy, what grief, do these insignificant scraps convey! 
1 Day after day did Matilda besiege the "From A's 
to H's," till the clerks " really wished a letter would 
come for her ;" and some of the heartless fellows pro- 
posed writing one, to get rid of her. Alas ! they could 
not appreciate her motives for thus besieging them ; 



160 Lenberman's Adventures among 

let them hope to find a mother in a letter, and they will 
not wonder at her anxiety. 

At last a letter came. She broke it open on the 
spot, and read, " Our dear, long-lost child ! come to 
as quickly. We know you are our child : your letter 
removes all doubt. The way we came to lose you, was 
this : We were living in New York, about twenty 
years ago, barely earning enough to keep us from day 
to day, when sickness came on us. We were all taken? 
to the hospital. The directors advised us to part with 
our child. You were then six months old. Subdued 
by disease and want, and not in our right minds, we 
consented. An apparently kind and benevolent gentle- 
man and lady took you from us, a.nd promised to rear 
you as their own child. When we recovered from our 
sickness, we searched for you long and diligently, 
hoping to get you back, for without "our Matilda," we 
had no earthly treasure. But our search was fruitless. 
By accident, about a year ago, we read an advertise- 
ment for one Matilda De Long, corresponding as to age 
and color of hair and eyes with our long-lost child. 
Since then we have spent all our earnings in advertis- 
ing for you. But if we can once more clasp our be- 
loved child in our arms, it will more than repay us for 
the long years of anxiety and trouble we have experi- 
enced on her account. We would come after you, but 
our means are exhausted. We have a few acres and a 
rude cabin in these gloomy woods ; but, with our child 
with us, it will be a paradise, — our cabin a temple of 
joy. We shall look anxiously for you, our dearest 
Matilda. May we not have to endure many dreary 
hours till we fold you to our bosom. 
From your happiest parents 

Ezra and Susan De Long." 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 161 

Matilda commenced reading the letter to me, but was 
bo overcome with emotions of joy, that she could not 
proceed, but handing it to me, broke out in sobs. I did 
not know what to think; it seemed strange; it seemed 
plausible, and yet I could not drive away that dark 
suspicion that lurked in the background. There was 
no use in my advising her what to do ; I saw that 
plainly : she was resolved to go, and I don't know as 
I could have advised her to do differently. 

"But what will you do with Henriette?" I asked. 

" Oh, she will have to go home. I love the dear 
girl as a sister. I hate to part with her ; but we must 
part. — My mother ! I have a mother ! The ties that 
bind me to her, should be stronger than any other. 
Henriette insists on accompanying me to the wretched 
home of my parents ; but this, you know, is not to be 
thought of. 55 

At this moment, Henriette entered the room and sat 
down by the side of Matilda. 

" You will take me with you?" she said, throwing 
her arms around Matilda's neck, her swimming eyea 
looking beseechingly in her protectress' face. 

"Henriette, my dear child, it will not do. it would 
be very wrong for me to take you where I am going, 
though nothing grieves me more than to part with 
you." With painful feelings and streaming eyes, Matilda 
said these words, — embracing, tenderly, her fair charge. 

"Oh, I can not leave you!" Henriette exclaimed. 
"You are a mother to me, and I love you as you do 
your mother. Let me go with you, and we will take 
your father and mother with us to my home. My 
father is rich enough to keep us all: it will be his 
greatest pleasure to do so, if it be my wish. We have 
monev enough to take all of us there. Come, dearest 



162 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Matilda, and then we shall never part. Will you not 
say Yes ? It would be cruel to refuse me. I feel as if 
1 can not live away from you." 

"Oh, what shall I do?" Matilda exclaimed. This 
new hope is also shrouded with sorrow. I advised 
her to comply with Henriette's request. " I think that 
her plan, of taking you and your parents to her father's 
plantation, a good one for you all, and I have no doubt 
that her father would be much pleased with it, and 
would give you employment and a home. Take Hen- 
rietta along, and I will write to her father ; and I think 
it will be best to tell him the whole truth ; he will then 
be led to believe as I do, that there is a good Provi- 
dence in the direction of these circumstances." 

It was finally arranged in this manner, and I had to 
consent to accompany them. In twenty-four hours 
afterward, we were rolling toward Toledo, and *he next 
morning we arrived at , a station on the "Air- 
line " road running west from Toledo. This station 
was the nearest station to the residence of Matilda's 
parents. 

By accident, or good luck, I inquired of a well- 
dressed young man, who happened to be passing the 
tavern door, if he knew a Mr. De Long near that place. 
He told me that a Spiritualist, by that name, lived 
about three miles distant, "and a very singular char- 
acter he is, too," he continued. — By a little persuasion, 
he gave me a full history of this individual. He said 
that De Long, and the clique of Spiritualists with 
which he was connected, were in rather bad odor in 
that community : they were not only accused of prac- 
ticing base deception, but even of crime. He told me 
of an incident that had just happened, that was the talk 
of the whole country: A shoemaker, by the name of 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loyeks. 163 

Martin, had a family of small children, and a nervous 
wife. His wife got to " rapping," and actually rapped 
herself to death. Every night before this sad event, 
the shoemaker's house was filled with the loungers, the 
wonder-lovers, the grass and honafide widows, the not- 
mated and unmated elders of the other sex, to see and 
hear the shoemaker's wife — "rap." And "rap" she 
did, loud enough to be heard " all over town," (said " all 
over town" did not comprehend a very large space, 
be it understood). It was laughable to see the honest 
shoemaker sit with solemn face, the very impersonation 
of sincerity, while the rappings were going on, and 
hear him interrogate the spirit and request it to " deal 
gently with Sally Maria." There was no doubt but 
that Sally Maria's nervous system was wrought up to 
an intense excitement at such times, which was nothing 
extraordinary, considering she was one of those nerv- 
ous, hysterical women, that are found in every commu- 
nity. There is no doubt but that Sally Maria and her 
waxed-end consort were sincere in believing they were 
actually dealt with by spirits, else Sally Maria would 
not have pounded herself to death, and left the poor 
cordwainer as disconsolate as one of his own No. X's, 
without its mate. The spirits which had so afflicted 
him, however, came to his relief, in the tangible shape 
of a model of spinstership ; very staid, very matronly, 
very nervous on special occasions, very talkative some- 
times, very skilled in catnips and tanzies, not very 
beautiful, especially when her mouth was open. She 
could rap, too, which was a great desideratum with the 
shoemaker, — worth more to him than all the ivory on 
the Negro Coast. They were duly sewed together, 
whether with the classic silken tie or with one of the 
cobbler's own waxed ends, the young man did not tell. 



164 Lenderman's Adventures among 

The rapping qualities of his last mate did not come up 
to what the operator in soles thought his deceased Sally 
Maria's were ; and he unfortunately so expressed him- 
self, one day, while engaged in the unspiritual occupa- 
tion of new-heeling an old brogan. He soon had rea- 
son to change his mind, however, for the left gaiter, 
No. 2, commenced a miscellaneous and unmitigated 
rapping on the poor fellow's brain-table, and if it 
had been as resonant as the one his dear Sally Maria 
pounded to pieces, the raps might have been heard to 
the cobbler's satisfaction. Through the mediation (spir- 
itually speaking) of this gaiter No. 2, another connu- 
bial seam has been sewed. A long bricklayer, by the 
name of Rapp (singular coincidence of name with sub- 
ject under consideration) had another nervous wife, 
and he lost her also, as most other men do the same 
article. It was dry rapping with Rapp, as he rapped 
on his bricks with no Mrs. Rapp at home to wrap up 
his trowel and dinner for him. And then, the little 
Rapps had no one to wrap up their hair and their sore 
fingers. If ever a house should echo to a rap, it was 
Rapp's house. Although Rapp was, hydrostatically 
speaking, rather a dry rap of a Rapp, he went in for a 
moist, not to say succulent rap, to take the place of 
his silent Rapp. He came across such a one, and 
fairly " rapped " her into a Mrs. Rapp. 

The " schoolmaster," (this was the name the young 
man went by), told me the details of the whole process ; 
but they would not be very proper to be introduced 
here. It was a second edition of Anson's gold watch- 
case, although not so scientifically, that is, so confiden- 
tially managed, — which caused the entire cat to get out 
of the bag, — but not until the succulent Mrs. Rapp, 
No. 2 got in, and was fairly w bagged ' All the gossip 



The SriuiTL'ALisTS and Fuee-Lovers. 165 

mills in the neighborhood are now grinding this grist. 
The "bagged" Rapp gets the moisture ground out of 
her, in the scandal mills, without mercy, while the 
dried up old Rapp puts his trowel to his nose and tells 
them to "grind away." 

The young man seemed to be in rather a humorous 
vein, in telling his story. I have written it down in 
his own language, as near as I could recollect. Ho 
told me several other laughable and serious annecdotes 
about the phantom society; but they bore a family 
resemblance to some already related in this narrative, 
and it would not be interesting, perhaps, to repeat 
them. There is one, however, that I will intrude on 
the reader, inasmuch as the narrator illustrated it in 
the bar-room of the tavern we were putting up at. 

One of the mediums of the society was a " prescribing 
medium." He was an ignorant fellow, afflicted with 
a lobelia and cayenne weakness. A treatise on " Doc- 
toring by Steam," having unfortunately fallen into his 
hands some years before, quite decomposed his already 
addled brain, so that he could do nothing except by 
steam, cayenne or lobelia. These were the three mov- 
ing powers in his code of physics. The world, in the 
first place, was an emanation from steam. The sun 
was a huge globular cayenne-pod, and every terrestrial 
eruption was the effect of intestine lobelia ; all human 
ailments were from deficiency of heat ; and if they could 
not be removed by steam, lobelia or cayenne, there was 
no use in trying any thing else. To confirm this"natural 
doctor" in his thermal theory, the spirits condescended 
to have direct communication with him. I don't mean 
the spirits with which he made his tinctures of cayenne, 
but those disembodied spirits, which arc supposed 
still to retain a sufficient amount of physical force to 

15 



165 Lenderman's Adventures among 

move tables, providing the tables are of seasoned wood 
and of the right material and construction, etc. Said 
disembodied spirits told Thomson No 10, that he was 
"some peppers" in the healing art ; that Dr. Rush wasn't 
a rushlight compared with this great luminary. Tho 
spirits told him that he had (like every other biped in 
these days), " a mission to perform ;" that he must not 
only speak boldly, but steam boldly and cayenne boldly, 
and lobelia boldly. The spirits told Thomson, though 
not in these words, probably, that he must u pitch in" to 
disease in general ; not to hesitate or take thought what 
he should prescribe, but to give whatever came to his 
tongue first; which, of course, would be one of the 
moving powers. 

One man was steamed for a fresh cut ; another was 
vomited for a thorn in his toe ; and one poor fellow, 
with the flux, fell a martyr to a cayenne enema. This 
^Esculapian medium had prepared some medicines from 
spiritual recipes, which he left put up in two-ounce vials, 
with the landlord, to sell at the very moderate price of 
one dollar per vial; twenty-five cents of which went to 
the landlord, in consideration of his humanity in plac- 
ing this boon within the reach of mortals. Having told 
the young man that I was somewhat acquainted with 
drugs, he called the landlord to let me examine the 
medicine ; first, however, cautioning me against putting 
any confidence in him ; warning me not to leave any 
valuables in his charge, unless we wished them to re- 
main in his charge an indefinite period ; and he advised 
me to make a bargain for my fare beforehand, unless 
w r e had a mint to draw on. I had formed such an 
opinion of the landlord, from his officiousness at tho 
station in getting us to come to the "Metropolitan." 
He ran down the other establishment, in a manner, 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 167 

showing he was accustomed to doing it. Among other 
arguments (and it was a moving one, we were bound to 
admit) he intimated that the " Dutch landlord," as ho 
was particular in calling him, not only bled his cus- 
tomers by his bills of fare and his bills of items, but by 
his bed bills. 

Although " scamp" was stamped on the old fellow's 
wrinkled brow, as plainly as it ever was on Cain's, still, 
at the sound of bed-bills we capitulated, and walked to 
the Metropolitan, "mine host" leading the way, and 
standing on the "snake heads," in the plank sidewalk, 
till the ladies stepped over. Our trunks were brought 
upon a wheelbarrow by two of the landlord's progeny. 
The biggest one working in the shafts, and the younger 
one in the rope traces before the vehicle. As we passed 
the rival hotel (labeled the "Occidental," in rather 
questionable typography, which the landlord interpreted 
" Dutch Hole "), our guide, who was teaching us the art 
of "walking the plank," became confusedly verbose, — 
he had been talkative before. The disturbing force 
which caused these increased and irregular lingual oscil- 
lations we soon discovered. A little boy, with a Teu- 
tonian accent, and a young lady, not so bad looking nor 
so shabbily dressed, who spoke pure and impure Eng- 
lish at the same time, sallied from the hall of the "Oc- 
cidental," and opened a regular battery of grape, canis- 
ter, chained shot, rusty nails, and every imaginable 
missile known to vocal artillery. Boniface was fairly 
raked fore and aft. He was riddled with word shot 
from jib-boom to rudder. Among the shots which 
seemed to make the old fellow shrug his shoulders, and 
most to disconcert his tongue, were some such irregular 
customers as these, "You old thief! you old villain! 
What 's that you've been lying about me, you dirty 



168 Lenderman's Ad ventures among 

old . Where 's that traveler's money, that put up 

with you the other night ? — You old liar ! You old devil, 
you!" And here the little Teutonian got so hot that it 
was dangerous for him to shoot any more till he was 
swabbed out. Never was a man more loaded down 
with degrees and masterships than this modest professor 
of "entertainment for man and beast." And the de- 
voted wheelbarrow, with its " Metropolitan " termina- 
tions, fared worse, if any thing, in passing the battery 

than the proprietor himself. " There goes 's fools ! 

Oh, what a yoke of calves ! Say, calfy, bawl a little, 
won't you ?" The bigger calf, that worked in the shafts, 
set down the barrow, and showed his butting propensi- 
ties. We expected nothing short of a catastrophe; but 
the father of the calves ordered the baggage car to 
"come along," and we finally got into harbor, that is, 
into the drawing-room of the Metropolitan, — "drawing" 
in two respects, being separated from the kitchen by 
drawing doors, and being decorated, as to its walls, with 
drawings of "Eliza" and "Sally Ann." But I have 
wandered from my subject, which was the spiritual 
medicine above-mentioned, done up in spirits and con- 
fined in two-ounce vials. Boniface was earnest and 
loud in his recommendations of the Spiritual Drops, 
and most particularly of the "Elixir of Life." 

It was a rare treat to the student of Physiognomy to 
watch the old fellow's face while praising the medi- 
cine. The old saw that "butter wouldn't have melted 
in his mouth," would be tame as expressing the extreme 
gravity of his countenance. The muscles of expression 
were contracted a little too much for a close view. The 
face would have personified sincerity well enough, if 
seen at a distance ; for instance, it would have made a 
very good model for a figure-head in stone, to adorn 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 169 

a fantastic window-sill or cornice. Like the bold 
figures of Michael Angelo, the deep strokes would not 
bear close inspection. It was well calculated however, 
to pass current with the "Haversacks" from the 
" bush," in convincing them that said Elixir of Life, 
etc., would cure all head, and tooth, and belly-aches ; 
would "knock," the "ager," and was "good for worms." 
The honest Dutchman likes very strong expressions, 
as well as very strong colors and very strong cheese. 
When the tavern-keeper told him, in that excessively 
honest voice of his, and with that indescribable face I 
have just been hinting at, that this bottle of Elixir 
would do all these things, and with a very penetrating, 
perhaps slightly prying eye, looked down into the 
Dutchman's elm-bark basket, and suggested that he 
would confer on him ("being he was a neighbor,") this 
inestimable blessing for the paltry sum of ten dozen 
of eggs, four pounds of butter and six chickens ; the 
emanation from "Fadder Land," with saturn-ringed 
eyes and sucker mouth, "caved;" (I dont know of a 
more polite word expressing the idea, although, I might 
have said the above-named emanation made a sale, 
including himself). It was with one of these elongated 
looks, almost painful to an anatomist, who knows what 
extreme tension certain muscles are then undergo- 
ing, that the landlord commenced eulogizing his ware. 
We proposed tasting, which he consented to; — we 
suggested the possibility of red peppers growing 
in the spirit-land. Oh no! no! no! — no red peppers 
about that ! no red peppers about that ! you're mistaken, 
sir. Nobody knows what it's made of. Finding we 
preferred arguing to purchasing, he put up his vials 
and abbreviated his face ; which abbreviation was rather 
accelerated by a man driving up with a load of hay. 



170 Lenderman's Adventures amo&g 

" You told me to bring you a load of hay." 

"Oh yes; yes, yes; drive right to the barn and 
unload, I'm very busy, now. Halloo! Jer-e-mi-ah! 
Jer-e-mi-ah! Jeremiah! Mother, where's Jeremiah? 
Never here when I want 5 im. Drive right along !— 
right along ! my boy'ill be there in a minute, to help 
you unload;" and the tavern-keeper flew round the 
house like a scared cat in a tinshop. But the farmer 
didn't "drive right along," as per request ; but asked 
this very common-sense question: 

"Say, how is it about the pay? You know I never 
got pay for that other load yet ; and I'd jest as lief 
you'd pay before I unload." 

"Oh! that'll all be right! that'll all be right! drive 
right along." But still Linsey didn't "drive right 
along;" and Boniface flew round the more and com- 
menced scratching his head. Coming up to us as 
smiling as a bouquet in January, he "wondered if he 
couldn't get the loan of five dollars for half an hour, 
till he could get a " big bill" changed. 

We intimated our willingness to act the accommodat- 
ing and the broker in this case, inasmuch as we pre- 
ferred larger bills. This brought on a hacking cough, 
which we had not heretofore noticed in our host ; he 
went out to clear his throat and disappeared round the 
corner of the house. The man who " didn't drive right 
along," concluded to do so after a while, but not in the 
direction of the " Metropolitan stables." 

This "prescribing medium," the young man told us, 
was doing much harm by the reckless manner in which 
he was heating up and convulsing physical humanity. 
Several in the neighborhood had already fallen victims 
to one or more of his motive powers. A young mother 
" doing well," was induced to use some of his tinctures, 



Thb SrmiTL'ALiLTS and Fkke-Lovers. 171 

by a special communication ; a fever and inflammation 
were the consequence ; and finally the husband, with 
his infant child, followed her to the grave. 

A little child that had swallowed some lye, producing 
inflammation of the throat and 6tomach, was murdered 
by inhuman doses of cayenne, to " raise the heat." The 
little innocent would struggle and scream in its agony, 
as its tormentors forced the liquid fire down its throat. 
Oh ! what crimes against nature is this demon of de- 
lusion guilty of! How many mortals have been sacri- 
ficed on its reeking altars ! When will men be gov- 
erned by reason, and banish these wild phantoms from 
their mind ! 

During our sojourn at the u Metropolitan," wo all 
became deeply interested in our young acquaintance. 
He seemed to take all of us by storm, with his spark- 
ling wit, — his general intelligence, — his manly bearing, 
and his nobleness of heart. If ever the spirits had 
any thing to do with human affairs, they had a hand in 
sending this young man to us just at that time. 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

Dark Suspicions. An important charge given to Davison, the School- 
master. Traveling in a new country. Life in the Backwoods. A 
First Settler. Arrive at " Home." Domestic Scene. Farewell. 
Davison gives a history of Himself. A Noble Man. 

Aftkr hearing the schoolmaster's account of the Spirit- 
ualists in the neighborhood, dark suspicions arose in my 
mind. Yet still it may all be right, I persisted in trying 
to make myself believe. I could not bear the thought 
of Matilda's hopes of a happy home being blasted. Mr. 



172 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Davison, for that was the schoolmaster's name, so won 
my confidence by his manly bearing, that it occurred to 
me to acquaint him with the history of my charges, and 
to place them under his protection, while they remained 
there. 

I was perfectly convinced, by this short interview, 
that he was a virtuous and honorable man, in whom 
the utmost confidence could be placed. He sat wholly 
absorbed with interest, while I recounted to him the 
foregoing narrative. He readily accepted the task 
(though modestly pleading his unworthiness) of serving 
and protecting the ladies, to the best of his abilities. I 
immediately introduced him to them. I noticed a blush 
and a marked agitation as he glanced at Henriette ; and 
no wonder, for a sensitive, pure nature like his could 
not behold such a beautiful being, so chaste, so modest, 
so confiding, without being fascinated with her radiant 
beauty. We hired a two-horse wagon in the afternoon 
and started for the cabin in the woods. The roads were 
just thawing out, and such a way of getting along it 
did seem to me that man nor beast ever experienced 
before. The horses would go a few steps, and then 
down they would plunge through the crust, up to their 
knees. Oh ! this is nothing, our Jehu cried. If you 
had lived in these woods as long as I have you would 
be used to it. It was a gloomy road, through a perfectly 
flat country ; not even the trees were cut out of the track, 
but were merely girdled and left to slowly rot and fall. 
We passed, perhaps, half a dozen cabins on our way, 
around which were from five to ten acres of land, par- 
tially cleared. Nothing was to be seen about these 
rude houses but a few corn-stalks, a cow, and, perhaps, 
a yoke of working cattle ; before the door, a few logs, 
with an ax, and an armful or two of wood prepared for 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 173 

the fire-place. As we jogged along past them, a hound 
or two would stick his head from under the floor, and 
bark savagely at us ; then the door would partially open, 
exposing an interesting family group of the " old man" 
in " wamus ;" the old woman, split broom in hand, and 
from six to a dozen offshoots from the above parental 
stock, ranging in altitude at regular intervals of about 
two years' growth. Judging from their tonsorial cover- 
ings, one would form the idea that few knights of the 
scissors ranged in "these diggins." But few words 
passed between us. This was a country, and a way of 
traveling, so new and unprepossessing to us all, that 
the shades of the tall trees seemed to cast a shade over 
our spirits. Our driver finally jolted over a pile of 
rails, and hauled up to a cabin, with a rude porch in 
front, under which were stored old flour and pork bar- 
rels, and all sorts of household rubbish. Matilda's 
heart seemed to sink within her; her hand trembled 
violently, as I helped her from the wagon, and her faco 
turned deathly pale. Henriette, poor girl, knew not 
what to say or think ; this was something so different 
from what she had ever experienced. We rapped at the 
door; it was opened by a tall, lank man, apparently 
about fifty, dressed in linsey pants and wamus. A 
dried up woman, of about the same age, was his sole 
companion. " Oh, this is Matilda," she exclaimed, 
glancing from one of the ladies to the other, in appa- 
rent uncertainty. Matilda sank, overcome, on a rough 
chair : then the dried up woman, inspired with a sudden 
confidence, fell on her neck, exclaiming, "My child! 
my child !" I left the room, with my new acquaint- 
ance, the schoolmaster, for we did not wish to dampen 
by our presence, the exuberance of their joy. I made 
him promise, again, that he would protect these ladies, 



171 Lenderman's Adventures among 

and keep them from difficulties, telling him that I did 
not feel satisfied that all was right, although I had no 
positive evidence to the contrary. We entered the room 
again. I was almost afraid to look at Matilda, for fear 
I would read a disappointment of her hopes. 

Mr. and Mrs. De Long appeared overjoyed ; and as 
to Matilda, she seemed to be in a new existence that 
she could hardly appreciate. She knew a father and 
mother for the first time in her life ! I told them that 
I must bid them good-by, for it was necessary to be 
off, in order to take the evening train. Never was a 
farewell more painful to me; never fuller of gloomy 
forebodings. I told Matilda and Henriette that, inas- 
much as they would need more attention than Mr. De 
Long could spare time to give, I would leave them 
partly in the care of Mr. Davison. I noticed a scowl 
on De Long's countenance, as I said this, which it was 
difficult for him to repress. A glance of disapproba- 
tion also darted from the eye of his wife. They quickly 
corrected themselves, however, and pressed me to stay 
to tea. Matilda promised to write often, and Henriette 
to put in a line with her. 1 pressed on them the pro- 
priety of making the arrangements we had decided on 
(of going to Henriette's home), and to carry them out 
as soon as possible. 

When I took their hand to say good-by, they both 
burst into tears. " Oh ! we never can repay you, sir, 
for your trouble," Matilda sobbed. 

I assured them that I had already been fully com- 
pensated, in the consciousness of doing my duty. 

I should remark, that De Long and his wife seemed 
at a loss to account for Henriette's coming with Ma- 
tilda. At least, I imagine they showed this in their 
actions and looks. 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 175 

While I was waiting at the "Metropolitan" for the 
cars, my young friend Davison gave me, at my solicita- 
tion, a sketch of his life, for it was strange to me that 
one as favored by nature and education as he appeared 
to be, should be spending the best of his clays in a 
country and society so uncongenial to his tastes. 

" I was," says he u twenty-one years old, last Febru- 
ary. I have no relatives in this State, none nearer 
than the State of New York. Seven years ago, my 
father was a prosperous farmer, near a village in west- 
ern New York. lie was in independent circumstances ; 
had a good farm, well improved and stocked, — was out 
of debt. My mother was indeed a helpmate to him, 
and I, his only living child, tried to be all that a duti- 
ful son could be. My father was as favorably situated 
to enjoy life, as a man could be. He had acquired his 
property by industry and economy, having left his 
father's door in Vermont a month after his majority, 
with two plain suits of clothes, and two dollars in his 
pocket. He should have been contented and happy. 
He was contented and happy while he was struggling 
to get a competency. But when he had 'every thing 
fixed to his notion, 5 and had but to spend the evening 
of his life in ease and independence, he began to hanker 
after a more lucrative business than farming. Thero 
are always enough hard pressed merchants in every 
country village, to jump at the chance of drawing a 
substantial farmer into their ruinous business, by means 
of which they may put off, for a season, the evil day of 
their failure. My father went into partnership with one 
of these merchants. In less than two years, he was a 
miserable bankrupt. The blow was too much for his 
proud spirit. The day aft<*r his paper was protested, 
he shot himself. Need I tell you of my poor mother's 



176 Lenderman's Adventures among 

grief! All my father's property was sold, to satisfy 
the demands against him. It did satisfy them, but 
there was nothing left for my mother's support. A 
part of the landed property was my mother's, be- 
queathed to her by her father. Contrary to the earnest 
wishes of her friends, she let this go also into the de- 
vouring jaws of bankruptcy. I was sixteen years old, 
and had a good education. I was in the senior class at 
college, when I heard of my father's death. I felt that 
my first duty, now, was to support my mother. I was 
inexperienced in struggling for a livelihood, and felt 
a diffidence and mortification in attempting it where 
I had been brought up in independence. I told my 
mother I was going West ; that I must work for our sup- 
port, and that I could not work there. She tried to 
dissuade me, but my resolution was taken. She then 
insisted on accompanying me: this I objected to. I 
could not bear the thought of dragging my mother from 
all the pleasant associations of her life. My associa- 
tions were immature. I could form new ones. I could 
transplant myself into new society ; but to move her, 
would be like uprooting the full-grown tree from its 
thousand permanent attachments. During the last four 
years, I have supported my mother, by teaching; and 
have saved enough to buy me a nice little farm of 
eighty acres near Sandusky. This, sir, is my brief 
history ; and you can well imagine that my experience 
in the difficulties of life has taught me to sympathize 
with those who are in trouble." 



The Spikitl'Alist3 and Fkek-Loveks. 177 



CHAPTER XV. 

A meeting with familiar Characters on the Cars. An important Conver- 
sation overheard, and a dark Conspiracy revealed. The Narrator's 
return to Cincinnati. Sister Moredock, the charming Medium. A 
Trump. A Philosophical Libertine. Marrying for Money. A spend- 
thrift getting economical. An unexpected meeting before Sister More- 
dock's. The Police attend a " Spiritual Circle." Interesting Develop- 
ments. A description of the twenty members of a "Circle." The antics 
of Mediums, such as Singing, Shouting, Jerking, etc. A deluded Old 
Lady. Philosophy of the Human Battery. A Button-rose of a 
Woman. Spiritual Singing. Spiritual Usher or "Ring-Master." 

I was soon flying homeward again behind the iron- 
lunged horse. The only passenger that got in the cars 

at beside myself, was a man muffled up so that 

nothing could be seen of him but his two eyes and the 
point of his nose. It appeared to me that a similarly 
dressed man got off from the cars at the same time we 
did. I thought nothing further of the matter however. 

After leaving Toledo I wrapped myself up in my 
cloak preparatory to taking a railroad nap, — which is not 
a very sound one, as everybody knows. After having 
changed cars at Dayton, it being two or three o'clock in 
the morning, I was lying half awake in a sort of semi- 
unconscious state. The muffled gentleman and another 
man sat behind me. This man happening on every 
train that I did, began to awaken a curiosity in my 
mind, to know his business and destination. 

The two commenced talking together^ in an under- 
tone. " I followed them up," the muffled man said : 

u Talk lower," his companion whispered, " he will 
hear you." 



178 Lenderman's Adventures among 

My ears catching this, fully awakened me ; but I did 
not stir. 

"Oh! he is sound asleep; he can't hear anything 
we say. He has no suspicions that I have been follow- 
ing him." 

"Did Henriette go through with them?" 

"Yes; I saw them all safe at . You can bet 

on Jack seeing a thing through, when he undertakes it." 

"This taking the girl along liked to have knocked all 
our calculations into a cocked-hat ; but we will bring it 
all round right yet." 

"I say, Landor — ." At this I started involuntarily, 
and came near betraying myself; but they took it for 
an ordinary start in the sleep, which one is apt to expe- 
rience in trying to sleep in the cars. 

" I say, Landor," continued the muffled man, after 
a short pause, — to be certain that I was asleep, "the 
sooner you go up there the better, for this fellow has 
got a handsome young school-teacher to take charge of 
the pretty bird ; and it wouldn't be any thing more than 
natural if he should be throwing his salt around and 
catch your pretty paradise bird." 

This schoolmaster is about as good looking as you 

are, and a heap more hon ; excuse me, I mean ha 

has such an innocent way with him, that will be sure to 
make her surrender, back there in the woods, where 
she is entirely without fortifications. By-the-way, Lan- 
dor, that is a glorious place up there in the woods ; — 
a very aboriginal country ; — pardon me for using this 
high-fa-lu-tin word ; you mustn't be surprised if I rip 
one out, once in a while, for I have salted down several of 
them since I've been with you. There was a time when 
I could use high-fa-lu-tin w r ords with the smartest of 
you ; but when I took to whisky, I took whisky's words. 



TnE SrntrniALisTs and Fuee-Lovers. 179 

I had a regular sheep-skin once, from a New York 
college ; I sold it for a drink of bad brandy at a Water- 
street doggery. But I was talking about the country up 
there, which is rather more interesting to you just now, 
than M Or'nary Jack." 

The land, up there, is as flat and unvaried as brother 
Cockmadoodle's face ; nothing but tall trees, with hero 
and there a few logs thrown together, which they call a 
house. I envy you your pleasant thoughts while rusti- 
cating in this interesting country; it is a pity that it is not 
summer time, for I know you would enjoy some delight- 
ful music from the native songsters of the bush ; I mean 
those little songsters with such penetrating melody, and 
bills, insisting on cousin-in-n-n-ing — everybody they 
come across. They are great at serenading, and never 
complain of a bad cold, nor break down from excess of 
modesty. And then there is a peculiarity in the atmos- 
phere up there, that makes a fellow feel remarkably 
cool of a hot day. You don't need any refrigerators 
now though, I imagine. 

Do stop your eternal joking, Jack, and tell me if 
any thing new has turned up, to require a change in 
our tactics ; for, I tell you, Jack, I am bound to enjoy 
that lovely Henriette. Curse the luck that snatched her 
from me, when the cup was at my lips. If I had my 
choice, to lose my whole fortune or the hope of enjoy- 
ing that charming little minx, I would lose the fortune, 
every cent of it. 

"Say, Landor, about how many hundred thousand 
dollars have you got of your own?^ 

M Xone of your d — d business. You must take great 
delight in throwing up such disagreeable things to me." 

u Oh, no ! not at all. I only asked to get a statistical 
fact (as I believe the newspapers call it). You kuow, 



180 Lendermak's Adventures among 

I'm a great fellow for statistics. But, I say, Land or, 
again, if you don't want to lose your bird, you had 
better be moving round, salt in hand. This is a pretty 
strong game you're playing, and it must be played with 
a nimble hand and eyes open, or you lose it ; and what 
is more, your reputation, — I say, Landor, aint that 
rich, — your reputation. Ha! ha! ha!" 

"I'll start day after to-morrow. We have a Circle 
to-morrow night, — the first we have had since Guysot 
was silly enough to get sorry for his deeds, — and die 
about it; I don't know as I have any reason to mourn 
very hard, — for, if I work my cards right, I will fill 
his place as the moving spirit of our Circle. It is 
absolutely necessary that I should be there to-mor- 
row night, in order to make things as lively as pos- 
sible, — to keep things moving, so that no unpleasant 
thoughts of our previous meeting intrude themselves. 
It is to come off at Sister Moredock's, our charming 
medium who gives us such agreeable communications." 

"Yes," said Jack, in whose partially uncovered face I 
recognized the countenance of one of the company of 
the fatal evening. I had turned myself, as if in my 
sleep, so that I could see both of their faces distinctly. 
" Yes ; the widow Moredock is a charming medium ; 
she does bring up such delightful spirits. None but 
the happy, rolicksome kind have any thing to do with 
her ;" and he nudged Landor familiarly in the side, — 
as much as to say, "aint we old birds?" Don't we 
know what we're about ? Her electricity repels (as you 
science folks calls it), all gloomy, old maidish spirits. 
Sister Moredock is a trump, and nothing else. I say, 
Landor, by-the-way, wouldn't she be a good card for 
you to take along up there ? You could lead off with 
her, or keep her under your sleeve, or shoot her out of 



Tiie Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 181 

a pistol, — as. the sleight-at-hand humbugs do. You 
could use her in any way, and she would come up Mrs. 
" High-low- Jack-and-the-game every time. When I 
say Mrs. Jack, don't understand that she ever would 
turn up Mrs. Jack Betson, — for I would as lief marry 
Barnurfi's codfish mermaid, as one of these foaming, 
wilted widows ; — I don't see how you can get along 
without her." 

" I hardly know what course it is best to take, Jack. 
That long-headed Matilda, taking Henriette with her, 
has almost, if not quite, frustrated my plans. If she 
had only left her in Cincinnati, or had left her on the 
way, as I supposed she would, there would be less diffi- 
culty ; but as long as Matilda is with her, you might 
as well try to steal a cub from a she bear. But then 
the greater the difficulties to be overcome, the greater 
the victory and the greater the enjoyment. These 
difficulties will give me excitement ; and I like excite- 
ment, — I must have it, — I would die without it. 

" Don't you know, Jack, that the greatest pleasure 
is in the pursuit of an object, — the labor of attaining it? 
When thfc hilltop of our aspirations is attained, — when 
we have accomplished our object and got every thing 
fixed to our notion, — we are no longer stimulated by 
that which was so lately our most potent stimulus to 
action. I think, however, that I never will lose interest 
in this fair object, even after she has become wholly 
mine ; for I love her. You may smile and make 
grimaces as much as you please, but I believe that I 
really and truly love Henriette Brandon. I believe I 
could live with her my whole life, without becoming 
satiated with her charms. I don't, nor never did, love 
my wife. I married her for her money. I have it, and 
there is an unsatisfied void, — a gnawing in my heart, — - 

16 



182 Lenderman's Adventures among 

that she can never satisfy. I consider our connection 
nothing less than legalized adultery, — on my part, at 
least. She has become repulsive to me ; her embraces 
are loathsome. The riches that I have obtained with her 
hardly compensate for the loathing that I endure. It is 
as if I were shut up in a tomb, with a corpse for my com- 
panion, and with no hopes of liberation till death bursts 
ihe door. It grows worse with me continually." 

" And especially since you came across this Hettie," 
chimed in Jack. 

" Yes, you know very well that I have been perfectly 
carried away with her; — I worship her. She is my 
idol. If I were free, she should be mine without taint. 
But I am not free, and she must be mine in the only 
other way. This operation is a-going to be very expen- 
sive too, — paying you and De Long." 

"De Long in a horn," said Jack, sticking his tongue 
out at the corner of his mouth and pointing over his left 
shoulder. 

" And then," continued Landor, u I shall have to shell 
out to the spiritual ring-leaders, up there, in order to enlist 
them in my cause ; or more properly speaking, I must 
hire the spirits, for they seem to be as much given to the 
main chance, as before leaving the corporeal form. You 
must be as reasonable in your charge as you can, Jack, 
for there is no telling how much all this will foot up." 

" Well now, if that don't take me; getting economi- 
cal, I declare. Why, you talk as if you had earned all 
this money by hard knocks, — cent by cent. When a man 
earns money as easy as you do, by boarding with a good- 
looking woman, I think it is rather small business for 
him to be jewing his hard-working servants. Why, if 
I was in your place, and could gain the prize you are 
after, I would spend every cent, if necessary, even if I 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 183 

should lose the prize next morning." The long whistle 
of the locomotive announced our approach to the Queen 
city. 

" Come over to Sister Moredocks, to-night, Jack," said 
Landor in a dull voice, having enveloped his face in a 
large shawl. 

"Let's see, — what's her address?" 

"No st." 

And that was the last I heard of the two worthies 
who had so interested me for the last hour. I hastened 
to my room, and wrote to Matilda, telling her what I 
had heard and warning her to be on her guard. I 
asked, if she were sure that she was with her parents ? 

The evening of the next day, at nine o'clock, found 
me before the house designated by Landor: it was a plain 
three-story brick; the window-curtains were close drawn; 
there did not seem to be any one in the front part of the 
house. I concluded that there could be nothing learned 
here, and was about turning to go home, when a female 
figure, completely enveloped in a huge cloak and hood, 
approached, timidly, the steps of the house, and stopped. 
She appeared embarrassed at meeting a person here. 

After viewing me a moment by the faint light of a 
distant street lamp, as I was walking away, she spoke 
to me in a low voice, — a half whisper : 

"Will you excuse me in addressing you, sir, for I seem 
forced to do it? Are you acquainted in this house?" 

"No, madam, I am not." 

" Will you accompany me in it, for I am afraid to go 
alone? This request seems strange, — perhaps immod- 
est, to you. Judge me not to be a character that takes 
this time and bold manner to seduce you to some den 
of infamy. I am a wife, — a virtuous wife, — and a 
mother; I have been forced here this night to satisfy my 



184: Lenderman's Adventures among 

wretched mind, as to the fidelity of a beloved husband. 
A villain has whispered in my ear, that my husband is 
false: it is a lie ! I will not believe it," she said, with 
a feeling that showed how deeply she suffered. "This 
villain, who wished to make me jealous of my husband, 
for his own base gratification, told me to come to this 
house to-night, and I would be convinced of my hus- 
band's infidelity. A society of spiritual Free-Lovers 
meet here to-night, he said, and that my husband was 
one of them. I can not believe it, and have come here 
to satisfy myself; but my heart fails me ; I feel my 
weakness. Will it be too much, sir, to ask you to go 
with me into this house ?" 

I told her I did not think it would be safe for me to 
intrude myself into their company alone, for I was 
already obnoxious to them. I proposed accompanying 
her to a police station, where we could get a sufficient 
force to go with us. She consented. On our way, I 
asked her name. 

"I will tell you," she replied, "but you must givo 
me your word that it shall go no further. I am the 
wife of the Eev. Mr. Falleau." 

I started at this announcement, and she noticed it. 
"What! do you know any thing of him?" she asked, 
anxiously. 

"Oh, I have heard of his name." Misery comes 
soon enough, without our lending it a helping hand. 
Some chance might yet avert the dreadful revelation 
from her. 

We were soon back, with an efficient posse. The 
lieutenant stationed two men at each door, to prevent 
any one escaping : then, with three staunch fellows and 
the lady and myself, he approached the front door. He 
rang the bell. A footstep was heard, and then an 



The Spikitualists and Fkek-Loyers. 185 

unintelligible word was asked by a female voice. Hav- 
ing learned the " passwords" of Matilda, I immediately 
answered. The door was opened. The girl was about 
to shriek, on seeing the watchmen's stars on their 
breast ; but the lieutenant stopped her by whispering, 
"Hush! say not a word, or you will go to the watch- 
house. But if you will tell me all about the doings 
in this house, and show me all through it, I will let 
you off." 

"Oh yis, I'll do it, indade I will, intirely, if ye '11 
let me go fray." 

"Can't you take me into a side room, where I can 
see the whole performance ?" 

"Yis, come this way, walk softly." And she led 
us into the front parlor, — separated from a large room, 
back of it, by several folding-doors, which had much 
shrunken, so as to leave a large crevice between each, 
through which the light gleamed from the back room. 
Mrs. Falleau sank, overcome, on a sofa. The back 
room presented a varied, not to say picturesque ap- 
pearance. A greater variety of marked physiognomies 
is seldom seen grouped together. A Circle, numbering 
nearly a score, sat around a circular table, a lady and 
gentleman alternately, having their hands in contact 
on the top of the table. The person nearest appeared 
to be a jaundiced mulatto, with black hair, which per- 
sisted in curling, in spite of certain oily and glutinous 
applications ; anomalous gray eyes, illy corresponding 
with the dark complexion and hair ; lips whose natural 
thickness was unmistakable ; and a nose whose wido 
alse continually expanded and collapsed like the gills 
of a fish. His dark hand, which looked as though it 
might have held a plow-handle at no very distant day, 
rested on the hand of a tall, spare-featured, hawk-nosed 



186 Lenderman's Adventures among 

woman, who was continually twitching and jerking, 
making the most serio-ludicrous and ghastly grimaces, 
very much like the galvanized motions of a corpse ; her 
right hand was in connection with the elegant Landor's 
left, who did not suffer much spasmodically ; there was 
too much animal substance about him, to be jerking 
round like one with the St. Vitus 5 dance ; he was will- 
ing that the others should do all the ridiculous jerking, 
while he looked after the unjerking realities. A man 
of as strong mind as his, must have a good deal of self- 
control over the risibilities of his nature, to sit in that 
ridiculous group with an unmoved countenance. The 
nerves of expression must be under the best control ; 
they must be abject slaves to the will, to thus permit 
the face to remain in a calm, unruffled and serious qui- 
escence. A much stronger affinity seemed to exist 
between his right hand and its connection, than be- 
tween his left and its spasmodic connection. Whether 
there was a -throwing off of the galvanic fluids by the 
St. Vitics of the hawk-nosed lady, thus diverting the 
magnetism that should have attracted her hand to Lan- 
dor's, or whether the soft extremity which his right 
hand pressed belonged to a body more attractive (using 
the common-sense definition of the word attraction), 
I do not undertake to decide. 

The hawk-nosed lady was a more powerful battery, 
no doubt ; but her gal-v&nism was of the explosive, 
shocJc-ing kind, not of that still, melting kind, which 
undoubtedly distinguished that of the mechanism on 
Landor's right. Judging, unilluminated by the lights 
of galvano-passional philosophy, the observer would not 
have wondered why his dextral hand was the moro 
attracted. She on his right was the light-haired crys- 
taftine-complexioned and eerulean-eyed being, who 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 187 

enchanted the company with her angelic melody on the 
night of Guysot's death ; she was a virtuous, sincere 
but deluded devotee of Spiritualism. She believed im- 
plicity in spiritual manifestations ; her open, guileless 
countenance was proof sufficient of this. 

Matilda had given me an account of this young lady ; 
she was, before she became deluded with Spiritualism, 

one of the most pious members of the church. 

Many a young lady of that church owes her change of 
heart and conversion to Laura ? s tender conversa- 
tion and prayers. She then sang in the church choir. 
Her clear, melodious voice was heard with delight by 
the enraptured congregation. She was, indeed, the 
pride of her parents, of the choir, of the congregation, 
of all circles in which she moved. But the tempter 
came likewise to her. She listened to his mysterious 
fascinations, and now she has abjured her religion ; she 
shuns the church, the benevolent society, the prayer- 
meeting; she has caused unutterable grief to her pa- 
rents ; and she follows this phantom, that will lead her 
through suffering and anguish, to certain destruction. 

Several very common-looking links occurred here, 
not worthy of any special notice. 

A red-wiskered, red-moustached, red-headed, red- 
nosed, red-handed and red-eyed, or rather yellow-eyed 
man, of about thirty, was the next fiery link in this 
living chain. It would seem as though the poles of the 
Circle should have met in this individual ; for it would 
have required but a faint stretch of the imagination to 
have seen sparks snapping from his nose to his hair 
or vice versa; although the common safety of the 
Circle, and of combustible things in the vicinity, might, 
perhaps, have pointed out dangers attending such an 
arrangement. As if to quench any spontaneous igni- 



188 Lenderman's Adventures amons 

tion that might take place in this glowing link, it was 
connected on the right with a decidedly aqueous ele- 
ment, — a perfect annihilator of any passional combus- 
tion, — an old lady, wrinkled as a root of dried ginseng. 
A single elongated eye-tooth hung down "solitary and 
alone" from her right upper jaw, like the surviving 
tusk of a venerable walrus. She looked through a pair 
of large, round glasses, set in that strongest of metals. 
The iron shafts in which her head worked, were fast- 
ened behind with a shiny piece of tape that had held 
said shafts together from time immemorial. What flesh 
she was the owner of was of that puffy, sedematous, 
tawny, death-colored kind which distinguishes miasm- 
fed humans. The Circle being considered a battery, 
however, it may work better by having this great diver- 
sity in the passional corrosibility of its plates. 

It would seem that undesirable links sometimes 
intrude themselves into the spiritual Circles, honestly 
believing, as this old lady did, every thing that is pub- 
licly said by spiritual lecturers ; they think that these 
private Circles are but for bona fide communications 
with the spirits. These old walrus -toothed ladies, con- 
trary to -the wishes of the younger and more passional 
members, insist on attending these Circles, and damp- 
ening the electrical fires by their watery presence. 

This deluded old lady, with the big specks and gap- 
ing mouth, was connected with an anomalous link on 
the right. The predominant features of this link were 
a groundwork of alpaca, a bead covered with harsh, 
grizzly hair, standing erect, — porcupine like, — a mass of 
reddish-brown hair hanging over his eyes, mouth and 
chin, like hay hanging out at the doors of a w T ell-filled 
barn. Two deep-seated, revolving balls of blue, black 
and white gleamed in their deep recesses, almost hid- 



The Spiritcalists and Free-Lovers. 1S9 

den from view by the overhanging eyebrows. There 
was no expression to the face, for what expression is a 
face covered with hair susceptible of? It can not laugh, 
it can not blush, no more than a cast iron face; it has 
but one appearance, that of "I will devour you." By 
occasional unintelligible chatterings, this link indicated 
that it was not made of American iron, but that it was 
of foreign ore, forged in the furnaces of Lyons or Anda- 
lusia. His long bony fingers, not only pressed but 
spasmodically grasped the manual extremities of the 
next link, — a lady on whose forehead we imagined we 
saw the Roman characters XLIY done in wrinkles ; 
she had large blue eyes, and one of the awfulest mouths 
and pairs of lips that ever ornamented the face divine. 
We dreaded to see them open, for fear of becoming dizzy 
and falling headlong into some yawning chasm. But 
she was an old bird, perfectly aware of the superfluous 
width of her labia oris, and when she spoke, kept the 
corners of her mouth shut, opening the central part 
only. I have seen ladies with wide mouths do this 
thing before, and have often been on the point of sug- 
gesting that a stitch taken in each corner would save a 
great deal of surveillance over this naturally expansive 
organ. This lady had dark hair ; it had an unnatural 
darkness, much like the color of certain French casi- 
meres ; a little curl pouted out from the fastenings of her 
hair, like a scrubby cedar over a rocky precipice. She 
persisted in keeping her bonnet on. By accident a fold 
of hair had caught in the wire of the bonnet, raising the 
hair, and displaying, underneath, hair of quite a differ- 
ent color, — the reverse of black. This, however, might 
have been an optical illusion. This lady was a spiritual 
lecturer ; something of this kind would have suggested 
itself if I never had heard her in this capacity. There 
17 



190 Lendekman's Adventures amokg 

was a staid staring on objects about her, with a half 
contemptuous expression, as much as to say, "This is 
not half so good a performance as I can get up at a 
4 dime 5 to pay expenses. 55 She could not subside into 
a smile by any means ; her mouth was kept drawn up 
as though she had been eating green plums. 

The next link was one that promised to be of peculiar 
interest at the present sitting ; it was no more nor less 
than a golden clerical link, the Rev. Mr. Falleau, the 
magnet that had attracted our interesting little company 
here. He was a man of about forty, appeared to be a 
lively common-sense fellow, taking the good things of 
the world as they came and letting the bad ones alone. 
This is the opinion one would form of him at the first 
glance, — and first glances are generally confirmed by 
subsequent glances. 

The next link brought us round to where we com- 
menced. This last link was decidedly the brightest 
one in the chain; it was of burnished gold, sparkling 
with brilliants. She was a magnificent woman in 
miniature ; like an object lessened by distance, dis- 
playing all its beauties, but concealing its imperfections. 
She was beauty concentrated. These little models of 
female perfection, — these canary ladies, — contain more 
woman in them than can be found in half a dozen of 
the shanghai species. She was small but perfect ; a real 
button rose of a woman; luxuriant black hair; long, 
black eyelashes ; eyes that verily shot forth blackness ; 
clear complexion ; plump cheeks, tinged with natural 
vermilion ; a set of symmetrical, dazzling teeth ; a pair of 
rose-tinted lips, that had no similitude in nature, a very 
fountain of hymeneal nectar ; a neck which gradually 
expanded into shoulders and chest of ravishing voluptu- 
ousness ; little round plump hands, with tapering, dim- 



The Spiritcalists and Free-Lovers. 191 

plod fingers, whose ends looked like rose leaves, covered 
with crystals ; one of which hands rested complacently in 
the hand of the preacher, and the other in the hand of 
the tawny link. The St. Vitics' and chicken-gapings 
of the hawk-nosed lady gradually merged into a vocal 
manifestation in the shape of a hymn, which, if it were 
sung as an ultra-mundane production, we should feel 
very much like setting it down as a palpable plagiarism, 
or an infringement of the inter-spherical copyright law ; 
for we were confident that our physical ear-drums had 
vibrated to that tune before. 

If the medium's monkey-shines were laughable before, 
they were now, when mingled with her cracked, sepul- 
chral voice, ludicro-ghastly ; her grimaces and efforts 
at singing, resembled a hen's efforts at crowing. In fact, 
I don't know of any better comparison of the lady's 
appearance, than to that of a strong-minded hen 
with spurs, mounted on the barnyard gate, and there 
crooking her neck and opening her bill in imitation 
of her crowing companion. A very good-looking man, 
with well trimmed beard, and moustaches which were 
very black (whether colored or not, I am not able to say), 
operated outside the Circle as a sort of stage-manager, or 
more properly a " ring-master," suggesting what might 
possibly take place in the Circle, as though the spirits 
on their road to their media, gave him a call as at a 
half-way house; by which means he was enabled to 
give an inkling, or prophetic indication of the manifes- 
tations about to take place. 

He held an enviable position, having the privilege of 
hearing the rehearsals of the spirits, — of reading their 
proof sheets. 



192 Lenderman's Adventures among 



CHAPTER XVI. 

The Outsiders of the Circle. A Young Widow. A well-matched Couple. 
A withered lady puffed out and patched up. A "Poll-evil Man." 
Last Chance for Matrimony. An old Spiritual Stage-horse not fond 
of dry Provender. A Latin Communication. A Smoky Medium. 
An Indian Communication. Tecumseh on the Stand ; Tells who 
killed him; Down on Dick Johnson. Spiritual force" versus" Gravi- 
tation. How the " Tapping " and " Knocking " are done. A very Inter- 
esting Room up-stairs. Admitted behind the Scenes of a Spiritual 
Stage. How the Tables are moved. 

The company, out of the " Circle," was composed of 
some fifteen persons or more, as a general thing rather 
better looking than those in the Circle. They did not 
seem to manifest much anxiety as to what the communi- 
cations might be, for they all appeared to be enjoying 
themselves socially, and even affectionately, in pairs, 
disposed in different parts of the room. There was a red- 
headed little fellow billing it very cosily with a young 
widow ; — that she was a young widow was evident, — 
no mistake about that. Young widows have that sly 
way of being modest, excessively modest, — at the same 
time saying "you can come in if you want to," — that 
perfectly overcomes and carries away all young fellows 
not accustomed to " widow hunting in South Africa." 
They are like old mother Grimes' rangurn-root-plaster, — 
bland and mild, and yet "drawing." 

The widow, for thus we shall persist in calling her, 
was longer than the brick colored barge that she had in 
tow ; but she had a skillful way of keeping her bow a 
little below the barge, which inspired him with confi- 
dence above his inches. The observer could not help 



The SriRrruALiLTS and Free-Lovers. 193 

thinking that here was a wrong arrangement. The pair 
should have changed faces and clothes, and then things 
would have gone on more naturally. In one corner of 
the room, however, there was a couple well matched, — 
bo far as external physical appearance was concerned. 
The feminine half of the couple, was the sharp-fea- 
tured lady with the ringlets, and "remarkably red cheek3 
for her age," — spoken of before. She was doing her 
best to show her artificial teeth, — a full set, — and 
undoubtedly kept in their places by atmospheric pres- 
sure, for there certainly could not have been a snag to 
fasten them to. Her lips had not become perfectly 
adapted to the teeth as yet, indicating that she had gone 
a long time without teeth of any kind, and acquired a 
peculiar motion of the lower jaw, called "gumming it," 
•a vestige of which motion was still to be noticed in the 
lady's (to speak mildly) depressed cheeks. The male 
part of this pair looked like an old stage-horse that had 
been completely stove-up. He had been a middle-sized 
man, but he was so stiffened and bent, that it was hard 
to tell his real stature. His neck was stiff, which, as a 
matter of course, interfered with the rotary motion of 
his head materially ; he carried his head precisely as a 
horse does, that has had the " poll-evil." His hair was 
permitted to grow to its fullest extent. It hung down 
in thin, long tags from his head, chin and lower jaw, — 
like Spanish moss from a cotton wood tree. This Free- 
Loveism is a glorious thing for him. This was his last 
chance for getting reciprocally affectionated. His only 
hope was to get some deluded fair one deranged with 
this spiritual madness sufficiently (and it would require 
a decided lunacy) to imagine him to be her electrical 
partner! the one created from the beginning for her, — 
a slice of spirit chipped off from the great original 



191 Lenderman's Adventures among 

spirit-ball, about the same time her spirit was chipped 
off, originated expressly to be united with hers and no 
other. One would judge, however, from that wry sort 
of a face of his (as though he had been eating sour 
apples), that she by his side was not the hona fide chip 
that was chipped for his chip; that he did not recog- 
nize her as the duplicate of his check, although she 
appeared to have originated at about the same time as 
himself, to wit, about the time of the last war with 
Great Britain ; — this stove-up stage-horse with the stiff 
neck, was most unquestionably roving round the ver- 
dant fields of Spiritualism for a fresher, greener bite. 
He was old enough to distinguish between the tasteless, 
dried up prairie-grass hay and the tender June gras3 
of the new meadow. This old horse was not to be 
caught with a sheaf of straw. His nose, though 
brought to bear on an object with difficulty, on account 
of rigidity of the cervical muscles, could distinguish 
" what was what," at an inspiration. 

Just as we were passing on to an analysis of the next 
galvanic pile, the copper plate of which was the lady 
that I had seen with Guysot at the theater, the ring- 
master arose, and very modestly, almost painfully so, 
announced that there was a Latin spirit and an Indian 
spirit in the vicinity; — Mr. Latin spirit having the 
precedence, both as to priority and superior prowess, 
would occupy the smoky medium first. That the ring- 
master's foreshadowings were legitimate prophecies, 
was proved by the smoky subject aforesaid slowly rising 
to his feet, with a twitching of the eyelids, like a toad 
in a hail-storm. This twitching extended to the muscles 
of the face and back, until the subject was "brought 
up standing" with what a physician would have diag- 
nosed tetanus^ and not only tetanus but Opisthotonos. 



The SrmiTUALisTs and Fuiac- Lovers. 105 

This battery, after great and painful efforts, every one 
of which was keenly felt by the aqueous old lady with 
the big specks, finally began to work, — in other words, 
the Latin began to issue in short, sudden jets, for all the 
world like the steam issuing from the scape-pipe of a 
one-horse engine ! just as the ring-master had predicted. 
Who could doubt spiritual manifestations after this ! 

The old lady could not, nor none like her; she sat 
with open mouth and staring eyes, perfectly entranced. 
This was a wonderful thing to her, — a man with no 
"book larnin, talkin' Latin." That it was "Latin," no 
one questioned, of course. But if it were Latin it be- 
longed to an idiom that we never had read ; in fact wo 
set it down as being much more Congo than Latin. 
The medium had the extreme kindness to translate his 
Latin into English, so that those less learned mortals 
not having communications with deceased Caesars and 
Antonies might understand. The gist of the communi- 
cation was, as interpreted (and we don't see how this 
could have been, for the ancient Latins are not sup- 
posed to have known any thing of American Indians), 
that the said smoky medium was of copper-headed or 
rather copper-colored descent ; that the dark tinge which 
characterized his complexion was from an admixture of 
copper and not of soot, as one would have inferred ; that 
this smoky appearance was an optical illusion, as also 
the curling of the hair, and the depression of the bridge 
of the nose, and the expansion of the nostrils. All 
this was not so, as it looked to be. After the Latin 
spirit had left the medium, the spirit of a deceased In- 
dian chief, which had been very impatiently waiting its 
turn, "pitched into" the medium w r ith a whoop! The 
opisthotonotic spasms were now increased, and the 



19G Lenderman^s Adventures among 

grimaces were truly horrible. An old negro woman, 
who talked more like a parrot than a human, was called 
on to interpret the "Injun" communication, for the me- 
dium could not understand what he had just said (which, 
indeed, was not to be wondered at). 

The spirit turned out to be Tecumseh's. It seems 
that it came on purpose to put an end to that long dis- 
pute as to "who killed Tecumseh!" This vexatious 
question may now be considered settled, for here we 
have Tecumseh's own account of it. Tecumseh said 
that if ever he came across Dick Johnson, in the spirit- 
land, he was going to give him "particular thunder, 5 ' 
for arrogating to himself the honor of killing Tecum- 
seh." The spirit, per smoky medium et per old granny 
Parrot, was about to tell who did kill Tecumseh, when 
he was pitched into by the foreign link with the hairy 
face and blue eyes. He also spoke in an unknown 
tongue, and appeared to be in great distress for the 
want of an interpreter. He finally got so fully charged 
with electricity that it carried him bodily to the top of 
the table ; he used his legs in getting up, to be sure, but 
that was merely for form's sake, — the moving power was 
the spiritual influence; and wonderful to relate, the 
medium, though wholly in the power of the spirit, 
seeming to have no thought of his physical identity, 
was careful never to step over the frame of the table on 
to the lids, in which case there would have been a test 
between the suspensory power of Spiritualism and the 
physical power of gravitation. This Leyden jar having 
been discharged of its superabundance of electricity, it 
succeeded in getting off from the table without accident. 
I heard now a feeble, rattling noise in the parlor, scarcely 
loud enough to be distinguished. The young woman, 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 197 

who ushered us in, still standing near the lieutenant, 
seemed agitated, — the rattle was heard again ; she 
whispered in the lieutenant's ear: 

" This is a sign for me to pull some strings. " 
"Pull away," he replied. She went a few steps 
from him, and immediately distinct raps were heard on 
the table; several communications, and answers, were 
"rapped" out, to the perfect satisfaction of the com- 
pany. The rattle was again heard, but it went much 
faster ; our guide came to the lieutenant and said she 
must go up stairs ; he told me to go with her. In the 
room immediately above where the Circle was sitting, 
was an immense bar of iron, weighing, I should think, 
two hundred pounds, bent in the shape of a horse-shoe; 
it hung from the ceiling by a cord ; this cord was at- 
tached to a pulley that ran around the ceiling in an iron 
groove, so that the bar of iron could be easily swung to 
any part of the room. In the center of the room was a 
large square opening in the floor, directly over the Circle- 
table, below. In the ceiling of the room, over the table, 
and covering the square opening, was a beautifully 
wrought open-work, which permitted one from above to 
look down and see all that was going on in the room be- 
low, but which obstructed the view from below upward. 
The objects in the room could just be distinguished by 
the light which penetrated through the open-work in 
the ceiling. The legs of the huge iron bar were hoisted 
upward toward the ceiling of the chamber, being held in 
that position by a suspensoiy cord ; at the sign of a 
rattle in the chamber, my guide let the legs of the iron 
bar down. I immediately heard a commotion of voices 
beneath, among which could be distinguished, "Hold it 
down." "Put your hands on it." "Keep it down." 
My guide commenced moving the iron bar around tho 



198 Lenderman's Adventures amojsg 

room ; looking down through tlie open-work, I could 
see the table moving, and following the same course as 
the iron ; it seemed to be lifted up, as by some mysteri- 
ous force from above, and was kept from raising to the 
ceiling, by the hands of the Circle : the manager gave the 
word, "let go;" immediately the table came up to the 
ceiling and remained stationary while the iron bar was 
still. I could see in the countenances of some of the 
persons below, expressions of wonder and amazement. 
The old lady with the big specks, particularly, was star- 
ing, wonder — personified ; while others appeared won- 
der-struck, with an effort, as though they felt confident 
that they understood the whole operation, but did not 
wish to disabuse their less initiated neighbors of their 
wonderment, and thus deprive them of a rich feast of 
delusion. None tried to appear more astonished than 
the ring-master himself. But he opened his mouth and 
eyes altogether too wide to be natural. Another rattle, 
and the iron came back to the center of the room, its 
legs were drawn up with the pulley, and down went the 
table from the ceiling. 

"I suppose you understand all this," my guide whis- 
pered. 

u There is a strong magnet concealed in the wood- 
work of the table, is there not ?" 

"Yes," she replied, "but don't never tell any one, 
for I should be afraid of my life, if they find out what I 
have done." We returned to the parlor. 



Tiik Spiritualists asp Free- Lovers. 199 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Mrs. Falleau (the Preacher's wife) meets her Husband in Sister More- 
dock's Parlor. A Fashionable Minister. Grand stampede among the 
Spiritualists. Mr. Falleau's Residence. Landor persuades the 
Preacher to elope "with Mis3 Callan. Struggle between Sin and Con- 
science. Sin triumphs by the aid of Brandy. Landor has an inter- 
view with Miss Callan ; His appeal to her. Wavering between Virtue 
and fear of Disgrace. A Convincing Argument. They all leave in 
the Cars for the North. 

The lieutenant was at a loss what to do. He had 
not seen any thing that would justify him in interfering 
in the case; although, that it was a skillfully-woven 
and dangerous net of prostitution, did not admit of a 
doubt. He was about retiring with his men, when 
Mrs. Falleau, who had brought us to the house, having 
taken courage to approach one of the crevices of the 
doors, fell back with a scream. Her head struck the 
floor with a crash like the breaking of an earthen ves- 
sel. The folding-doors burst open, and such a scene of 
affrighted looks and hysterical screams, is not often wit- 
nessed. 

As soon as they recovered themselves, they attempted 
to leave the room ; but the watchmen outside held the 
doors. Some of the ladies hid their blushing faces ; 
one man stood with his head down, crest-fallen in the 
extreme, — prostrated with shame. Oh ! how he wished 
for some trap-door to let him sink from sight ! 

Xeed I state who this gentleman was? He saw his 
devoted wife, whom he had sworn to honor, not only 
a3 a man but as a minister of God. There he stood, — 
he whose business it was to preach fidelity and purity ; 
to set an example before the world, of conjugal chastity, — 



200 



Lenderman's Adventures among 



from home, in a strange house, — at a late hour of the 
night, rioting in fond dalliance with a female not his 
wife. And yet this is the learned, the pleasant, the 
talented, the eloquent, the pious, the dearly-beloved 
Rev. Edmund Falleau; the champion of orthodox 
religion, and the model man of the dear " Sisters." 

u Oh ! what a lovely minister we have got," I heard 
a Mrs. retired Pigs Feet and Tripe, say to one of the 
Sisters, on their return home from church, but a few 
days before ; " what nice sermons he does preach! and 
then he has such a pleasant way with him ; his com- 
pany is so agreeable ; and, by-the-way, he has called on 
us every evening, of late, in his walks that he takes for 
exercise. He has taken a great interest in my youngest 
sister, who is spending a few weeks with us on a visit." 

This conversation was called to mind on seeing a 
young lady in the company, who fain would have hid 
herself; whose features bore a strong resemblance to 
the sister who was so highly-favored, of late, with the 
Eev. Mr. Falleau's calls. 

Our attention was now called to Mrs. Falleau, whose 
head had struck a spittoon, producing a frightful gash, — 
separating the scalp from the skull for two or three 
inches, — the spittoon itself was broken. Having washed 
the blood from her face with some cold water, she re- 
vived, exclaiming : u Oh! Edmund, you have broken my 
heart ; you have broken my heart ! I could not have 
believed it." 

"Here is your wife, Mr. Falleau," said the lieutenant, 
who appeared to be acquainted with him. " You had 
better take care of her." 

The young lady whom I had just noticed, dropped her 
hands from her face, and with frighted visage fell back 
into the arms of one of the more courageous women. 



The Spiritualists and Free- Lovers. 201 

"Mr. Falleau, hadn't you better go and get a car- 
riage for your wife," the lieutenant coolly continued. 
This was a relief to the truant preacher, and he gladly 
sneaked out. A carriage was sooji heard at the door. 
The driver said, " He was sent there for a lady ; that the 
gentleman who sent him had been taken suddenly ill, 
and had gone on home, where he wished the lady to be 
brought." 

The lieutenant wished me to accompany him with Mrs. 
F. to her home. He told the spiritual Circleists, that he 
should watch their proceedings, and if he saw any thing 
he could take hold of, he should "put them through." 

Having sent off his men, we entered the carriage. 
Mrs. F. had recovered, although she was very weak 
from loss of blood. By the help of a pair of scissors 
and a strip of muslin, I had bound the wound up as 
best I could. We found the Kev. gentleman awaiting 
our arrival. 

Having assisted her into the house, Mr. F took us 
aside and begged of us, that we would not " let this thing 
out ;" he proffered each of us a twenty dollar gold piece. 
He said he would do better in future ; that he had been 
drawn into this by the urgent solicitation of friends ; 
but, that he was heartily sorry for it. 

As we were entering the carriage, I noticed a man, 
very much resembling Landor, going round the corner 
of the door-yard fence. After we had gone a square or 
two, I asked to be let out, and retracing my steps cau- 
tiously, got near enough to hear the conversation 
between a man on the outside of the fence, and one on 
the inside, who, I discovered to be Landor and the 
preacher. Landor was advising Mr. Falleau to take 
Miss Callan and accompany him, that very night, to the 
North. " You will be found out," he said, "and dis- 



202 Lendekman's Adventures among 

graced before your church, if you remain here; and is 
it not better to leave before you are subjected to this 
humiliation ! And until you are found out, your life 
will be a perfect hell to you, dreading in every human 
countenance an accuser, — expecting every word that is 
addressed to you to be an exposure. And beside, if 
you remain, you will lose the bird that you can now 
reach forth and take." 

"But my two children! I can not leave them!" 
"Oh! fudge on the children. You can pick up as many 
children as you want, gratis, without the trouble of rais- 
ing them. Oh ! never mind about the children ; your 
wife will go to her father's, and they will be taken care 
of better than if you had them yourself. You are in 
the same connubial fix that I am. You have a wife 
that you can not love. If there be any truth in the 
doctrine of 4 freedom of the affections, 5 which we both 
believe in, we are justifiable in placing our affections 
on whomsoever we choose ; and it is not only right, but 
your duty, to leave the woman who causes you to com- 
mit adultery continually, and enjoy the one for whom 
you have an affection." 

"Oh! I feel that I did wrong, Landor, — very wrong, — 
in listening to your tempting invitations, in the first 
place, to investigate this subject. My heart told me, it 
was wickedness ; but I was tempted to tamper and dally 
with it, until I became enamored of its seductive philo- 
sophy ; and now, see where it has brought me. Lan- 
dor, I am heartily sorry that I ever suffered myself to 
be thus led astray ; and if I thought I could abandon 
this wicked course, and return to the path of rectitude, 
and feel safely restored to the bosom of my family and 
church, I would prostrate myself at the feet of my 
God, and strive to live a pure life in future." 



TnE Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovers. 203 

"Well, you are a brave-hearted fellow, I declare. 
You believe in the glorious principles of Free-Love 
with a vengeance! The affection that you have avowed 
for the fair lady who is willing to give up every thing 
for you, must be sincere indeed I As soon as you see 
the least inconvenience or obstacle in the way, you give 
up ; — and beside, the die is cast, you can not retrace your 
steps. That this thing will be made public ; that you 
will be held up as an object of scorn, for every con- 
temptible finger of your church ; that your wife and 
her friends will disgrace and repudiate you, is a matter 
not to be doubted. You must make up your mind to 
leave this place at any-rate; and which will you choose, — 
to leave without having every feeling of your nature 
insulted, — leave of your own accord and have a young, 
beautiful, accomplish ecr and loving being as your com- 
panion in exile, with the "wherewith" to make your 
exile supportable ; or will you wait to be kicked out, 
and have your only solace wrested from your arms by 
her friends ? I advise you to seize the favorable oppor- 
tunity, for another such may not occur. Get ready, 
and go with me to-morrow morning, and I will get you 
out of this scrape ; — this is not the only place in the 
world. Your beloved flock is not the only flock; nor 
is your wife the only lovely woman. The door is opened 
now for you to go out agreeably ; — wait, and you will 
most assuredly be put out much less pleasantly. What 
do you say? — will you go — or not?" 

The preacher hung his head. I could even hear him 
sob. It was a struggle, and a fearful one, between right 
and wrong. He did not think, when he was first se- 
duced by the "passional philosophy," that it would como 
to this. 

11 Come, don't be a baby," continued Laudor, fearing 



204 Lendekman's Adventures among 

his victim would give way to his better nature ; " what 
do you say — freedom or slavery ? will you come with 
me or not? — there is no time to be lost." After hesita- 
ting a moment, the preacher replied : 

" I can not do otherwise ; my fate is sealed. I took 
the one wrong step from the path of virtue, and now I 
must continue in the road of sin ; — one step downward 
leads to another and another, continually. I feel that I 
am lost forever, and the sooner I reach the bottom of 
my degradation, the better. I will go with you, — I 
must go, — there is no other course ; but oh ! how can 
I leave my children !" 

" I will arrange it for you," said Landor. "Go in 
and write a note to your wife, telling her that you can 
not survive the shame and infamy that await you ; that 
when she reads this note, youVill be a corpse in the 
river. Take only the clothes you have on, and meet 
me at the depot at six in the morning ; I will engage to 
bring your charming Miss Callan and the accompani- 
ments ; so that we can leave this cursed prudish city 
by the first train in the morning, and enjoy perfect free- 
dom for a while. I have arranged the property I got 
from my wife, so that I can hold fifty thousand dollars 
in any contingency. So that if I can catch my pretty 
bird in the North, I shall never return to the Queen City. 
But one thing I shall exact of you, if I help you out of 
your difficulty, — that you will help me in return, and 
in a similar business. And then we w T ill both go to 
some far-off place, where we are unknown, and enjoy, 
as nature designed we should, the pleasures of our un- 
restrained passional natures. 

" Come, get ready. Play your part well. Be a man. I 
tell you again, the die is cast, — the step is taken, and you 
can not go back. No whimpering now. Here, take a 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 205 

good horn of this ; — it will strengthen you," said Landor, 
pulling a wickered flask from his pocket, and almost 
forcing his companion to take swallow after swallow, 
till he thought he had taken as much as he could bear. 
u Well, we haven't any time to spare; meet me at half 
past five at the depot." With the parting words, 
"keep good heart," Landor left the preacher, who still 
Btood with his head resting on the railing of the fence. 
I could hear him weep. 

" Oh ! what a wretch I am," he muttered once. " But 
this won't do ; I must go ; it must be done. Oh, what 
horror ! Had I not better put an end to this miserable 
existence ! I feel that all hope of peace has passed from 
me. I feel that if I take this last step in infamy, that I 
shall have committed that unpardonable sin, for which 
there is no forgiveness. Oh, my God, why am I thus 
tortured ?" His words became less distinct ;— the brandy 
began to take effect. — " Oh, yes, — I'll go, of course I 
will ; no other way ; no other way ; I must go, that 's 
all there is about it. And then, have I not got a most 
charming consoler in my afflictions, and we shall not 
be bothered with children. Although they are lovable, 
innocent little things, they cause more trouble than 
pleasure; and then the money; nothing to hinder us 
from enjoying ourselves. That 's a good idea about 
my getting drowned. Ha, ha, ha! ain't that rich! Oh, 
yes, I'll go and fix it up, for I feel as though I had taken 
a little too much brandy ; and if I don't start pretty 
soon, and keep myself moving, I may not get to the 
depot at half past five." He disappeared, with an un- 
steady step. 

Returning home, my attention was arrested, while 
passing a splendid mansion with a sandstone front, by 
a couple of voices engaged in earnest conversation ; 
18 



206 Lenderman's Adventures among 

one was a female voice, and she was saying, in seeming 
agony of heart, a oh! Landor, I can not take this fear- 
ful step ; I shall be lost, ruined forever ! I never can 
see a friend or relative again." 

"I thought you loved Edmund Falleau," the male 
voice replied. 

"I do, but I can not do this wicked thing,' 5 she said, 
sobbing as though her heart would break, 

" Oh, nonsense ; if you love him, it is your duty to 
accompany him at once. Think of the sacrifices he is 
willing to make for you ; he must break the ties that 
bind him to a beloved family for you. And here you 
have only to exchange the society of sunny-day flatterers 
for that of one who loves you with all the ardor and sin- 
cerity that man can have for woman. I shall begin 
to doubt the reality of your love for him, if you hesitate 
in this manner." 

"Oh, it is an awful step !" she moaned. 

" Come, say quickly, whether you think enough of him 
to go with him or not ? He is waiting for you at the 
depot ; he has left all that is dear to him in this world 
for your sake ; will you go with him or not ? — I must 
be off." 

" Oh, my God ! what shall I do," she uttered in agony 
of spirit. 

" Go and get ready, immediately, and don't act so 
childish. Come, I can't wait ; remember that your ex- 
posure is certain if you remain here. And I would not 
be surprised if you should all be brought up before the 
Police Court in the morning, and, perhaps, put to jail." 

" Impossible!" she exclaimed. 

" Yes, I almost know it," said Landor, earnestly ; glad 
that he had struck on this happy cord. 

"I will go," she said; alarmed at the thought of 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Loveks. 207 

exposure. She entered the house, and after a few mo- 
ments returned to the door and whispered to Landor. 

He drew off his boots and followed her ; he soon 
returned, carrying a trunk. Putting it down at the 
corner of the next square, he carried another small 
trunk and a carpet bag, and then she came out with 
him, enshrouded in a large cloth cloak, her head and 
face covered. They disappeared around the corner of 
the street, and in a few minutes after a carriage stopped, 
took the trunks and drove rapidly to the westward. 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 

Waiting for a Letter. A Father's Gratitude. A visit from Henrietta's 
Father ; his disappointment. An important Telegraphic Dispatch. 
A second Trip to the North. The Father's agony. Arrival at our 
Destination. A Model Landlord. "Dark as Pitch." The Adven- 
tures of a Night. "Spiritual Hall." A description of the Com- 
pany below, and an Account of their doings. Henrietta discovered ; 
her perilous situation. Miss Callan. Landor again. 

I went home and wrote another letter to Matilda, 
telling her all that had happened. I also wrote one to 
Henriette, and one to Davison, so that they should be 
certain to be put on their guard, for I knew now, well 
enough, that we all had been the dupes of this vil- 
lainous Landor. I was perfectly satisfied that the 
avowed parents of Matilda were no kindred of hers. I 
wondered to myself how we should have been so de- 
ceived. But it was a skillful plot, calculated to deceive 
wiser heads than ours. I wrote to Matilda my convic- 
tion that she was not with her parents, and urged her 
to come back immediately ; not to delay a moment. I 



208 Lenderman's Adventures among 

waited very impatiently for an answer. Six days had 
passed and no word. I should have received a letter by 
this time ; but no letter came. I wrote again, and again ; 
another week passed, and no answer,— what shall I do, 
I asked myself. I had undertaken to protect these 
females. I had espoused their cause, and it seemed 
obligatory on me now to do every thing for them in my 
power. A person will sometimes get enlisted in a 
cause, he hardly knows how, without expecting any 
benefit therefrom ; he still pursues it with ardor, merely 
because he has espoused it : it was thus in this case. 
I had not the least idea of being benefited in any way, 
but my feelings had been enlisted in it, and a sense of 
duty seemed now prompting me onward. I had in the 
meantime written a letter to Henriette's father, stating 
the whole circumstances, and received an answer from 
him, covering me with gratitude. These manifestations 
of a father's gratitude, more than compensated for all 
the trouble, and interested me still more in the cause. 
He was to be here in about two weeks, to accompany 
his daughter home, and he earnestly entreated me to 
keep her from harm, till he arrived; promising to 
recompense me well for my trouble. I kept writing, 
and waiting for answers, through the next two weeks, but 
in vain. If my business had admitted of it, I should 
have gone and learned what was the matter. One 
morning, a very genteel, good-looking man, of about 
forty, called on me. The first glance told me who he 
was. There was such a striking resemblance between 
him and Henriette. He turned very pale, when I told 
him the situation of his daughter. He seemed to have 
a presentiment of something wrong. He manifested a 
fearful foreboding as to the welfare of his Henriette. 
"I must go after her immediately," he said; and was 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 209 

about leaving the room as though there was not a mo- 
ment to be lost. 

u You will have to wait till morning, Mr. Brandon, 
there is no train going out this evening." 

"Oh! how can I wait," he exclaimed. "My dear 
child, my only joy this side the grave ! Oh ! it seema 
as though some evil fate were striving to wrest her from 
me too. Oh, what trouble ! what sorrow have I seen 
in this world!" The tears coursed silently down his 
manly face, as these pangs burst from his tortured soul. 

"Do not despair. I trust that every thing is right. 
I left them in the care of one I almost could swear 
would not be guilty of a dishonorable act, and who 
would protect the honor of his charge as his own. 
The irregularity of the mails may account for my not 
hearing from them. Try and compose yourself, so that 
you can start in the morning with better spirits." 

"I can not be composed till I see my child. If only 
my own happiness or misery depended on this, I might 
be composed; but, oh, my daughter! my Henriette ! 
Oh, if she should be dishonored ! I can not endure tho 
thought ! Oh, that this doubt, this dark cloud, could be 
removed!" 

At about two o'clock, the next morning, I was awak- 
ened by a continued thumping at the street door, and 
ringing of the door bell ; the door was finally opened. 
u Here is a dispatch for ; see if he wants to an- 
swer." I started from bed on hearing my name, and 
met the porter on the steps. The dispatch read* 

j r, Ohio. 

Conie here immediately ! No delay, or all is 

lost ! 

(Signed) A Friend. 

Answer. 



210 Lenderman's Adyentuees among 

I immediately wrote on the back of the dispatch, "I 
will come," and sent it to the messenger. I dressed 
myself, — for I could sleep no more that night. After I 
had taken a cup of coffee with Mr. Brandon in the 
morning, preparatory to his going to the cars, I re- 
lieved my breast by telling him what I had received. 

" Oh, she is lost ! lost ! I feel it. I dreamed it. Oh, I 
must go through this humiliation ! let me not survive it ! 
If she is lost, may death put an end to our troubles." 

It was only by telling him that the omnibus was wait- 
ing that I brought him out of his deep despondency. 

" You are going with me," said he. 

" I think it hardly necessary." 

u You must go. Get ready. Do not deny me, I 
beseech you." 

I had but a moment to decide ; the driver was getting 
impatient, I filled a carpet bag with a few articles of 
clothing ; took my cloak, and left. Oh ! what mental 
agony, what torture of soul did that father suffer that 
day. If he had been following his dear child to her 
grave, it would not have been such unutterable grief as 
the horrid suspense that he endured. 

We arrived at our destination at about ten o'clock 
at night. The night was as dark as blackness could 
make it. Thick clouds totally obscured the sky. A 
drizzling rain and a thick fog, seemed to make the dark- 
ness tangible. If ever fog was " cut with a knife," it 
was such fog as that. Thanks to the Metropolitan land- 
lord, we found one of the "calves," waiting at the 
depot, wheelbarrow in hand, to save benighted wan- 
derers from the perils of the storm. As some traveler 
on the icy Alps, overcome with fatigue, and hunger, 
and cold, rejoices at the sight of a noble St. Bernard, 
with the flask of wine and the bread tied round his 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 211 

neck, so we rejoiced at the supposed presence of the 
Metropolitan calf, with its wheelbarrow, " supposed 
presence" we say, — for we only had the calf's word for 
it, it being so dark that we could not have distinguished 
said calf from the Metropolitan itself. We got to "our 
hotel," in a very aboriginal way, to wit: after the 
Mexican fashion of the livery-stable man, reserving 
the privilege of holding on to the tail of his hired mule. 
I took hold of the boy's cotton coat-tail with my left 
hand, and of Mr. Brandon's hand with my right. This 
would have been our programme, then, providing it had 
been light enough to be seen : First, wheelbarrow with 
baggage ; second, Metropolitan calf; third, cotton coat- 
tail, followed by the travelers; — line of march, — as 
near the middle of "Only" street as our bovine pilot 
could keep. 

The procession moved to the music of our footsteps 
splashing in the mud. Finally, by the aid of a dipped 
tallow candle, I saw the familiar faces of the two-ounce 
Elixirs of Life. 

With no little bawling, the calf succeeded in making 
its progenitor conscious of the presence of travelers. 
We heard through the half-opened doors his nervous 
and short " What d'ye want ! Put 'em to bed" — "bring 
the baggage in here." But the boy said, "they want 
to find where some folks live, — they want to find 'em 
to-night." 

"Go-long, — tell 'em you can't find out till after break- 
fast. Put 'em to bed on the Metropolitan bedsteads, — 
may-be I can sell 'em a " right" in the morning; go-long 
and shet the door; don't stand there a-foolin' all 
night," 

The boy came back to the bar-room with " Father 
says, he don't know any thing till after breakfast ; but 



212 Lendekman's Adventures among 

he '11 take care of your baggage, and wants me to put 
you to bed." 

"But your father must get up, — we must see him. 
Go and tell him so." 

" No, I darsn 't." 

The boy laid down on a bench, and in less than ten 
minutes was snoring a wheelbarrow-march. I should 
have insisted on "father's knowing something before 
breakfast," but the thought occurred to me, that, inas- 
much as he was associated with this spiritual clique, he 
might, instead of assisting us, do us infinite harm ; and 
I so told Mr. Brandon. No doubt, we might have 
bought him by a higher bid, but we had no time then 
for such negotiations. It seemed as though my com- 
panion could not endure the thought of resting till he 
had found the object of his search. 

Having walked outside of the house to cool my 
fevered brain, I heard a singular noise at no great dis- 
tance, as of horns and other musical instruments ; but 
they were not in unison nor in time with each other ; it 
appeared like a chaos of sounds, embracing every acci- 
dental combination that could be imagined. It appeared 
as though I were listening through a musical kaleido- 
scope. When I returned to the bar-room, I shook this 
out of the half-conscious boy, — u Them 's spirits a-play- 
in' and blowin' over to the Spiritual Hall." 

I put on a glazed cap and my cloak, and slipped out 
unseen by my companion, who was pacing the room half 
deranged by the cruel suspense he was obliged to endure. 

Following the direction of the sounds, I groped my 
way to a small frame house, about eighteen feet square, 
from which the sounds proceeded. There was no win- 
dow in the house, and but one door, which I ascertained 
by walking around it and feeling along its sides. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 213 

As I stood on one side of the house, I heard some- 
thing like a rope gliding over the eaves. When it 
caine within reach, I felt it, and found it was a rope- 
ladder. When it had reached the ground, I heard steps 
on the roof, and presently an object of some kind 
descended to the ground. Moved either by an irresis- 
tible influence or by presence of mind, of which I have 
no great amount, I grasped the object, saying : 

u IIush ! don't say a word ! don 't be alarmed !" 

I grasped what proved to be a coat collar. An 
agitated voice, saying, "Let go, — What d'ye want," 
made it evident that it was not; a disembodied spirit, 
but a body with a spirit, that was before me, — in a word, 
a man. 

" Listen," said I, being satisfied that lie was one of 
the wire-pullers of the establishment, " do you want 
some money? Let me into the secrets of this thing, 
and I will pay you well. I will not expose you. I 
know pretty much all about it, now. I know as well 
as yourself that it is all a humbug, — a trick to deceive 
the credulous. Take me up-stairs, and let me see the 
whole performance, and you shall have a ten-dollar 
gold piece ; here, you can feel it ; as soon as you have 
shown me all, it is yours. I am a perfect stranger here. 
I came on the up-train to-night, and am going away 
probably to-morrow ; so you need have no fears of being 
exposed." The feeling the eagle seemed to have an 
electrical effect on him. 

u Just wait a minute," said he, "till I get a ball of 
twine, and I will take you up; but you must go in 
with me and come out with me, so that no one will 
know it ; for there are several more up there that help 
me. And you must not say a word, — sit perfectly still 
where I put von. I will seat vou by a place made on 
10 



214 Lenderman's Adventures among 

purpose, so that when there is a light below, you can 
see all that is going on." 

I soon found myself seated near the scuttle-hole, in a 
low garret, in perfect darkness. I could hear the 
breathings of several persons in the garret, and the 
drawing of strings as over pulleys. Looking through 
a crack just before me, I had a fair view of all that was 
in the room below. There were some twenty or thirty 
persons in the room, — about an equal number of males 
and females. The first object that struck me, — and I 
came near exposing myself by an involuntary excla- 
mation, — was Henriette! Yes, there she was, — my 
eyes could not be deceived ; and there also was her evil 
genius — Landor ! 

Oh ! poor, weak, confiding woman ! No lesson is 
Bevere enough to teach you the inconstancy, the villainy 
of man. When he has struck you, it requires but a 
smile to eflace the injury. You are constituted to trust 
in him though in defiance of the lessons of bitter experi- 
ence. As often as he abuses you, so often do you forgive 
him. Though he cast you off, and trample you in the 
dust, still you twine around him and implore his mercy. 
Thou art an instrument in the hands of man, to be used 
as he desires. There seems to be no use in woman's 
straggling against the fate that has made her subservi- 
ent to the will of man ; for she can not contend against 
it, — she must succumb. There is an enchantment that 
draws woman toward her lord, that she can not resist, 
even though she be aware that he is her destroyer. 

But a few weeks before, Henriette had been snatched 
from Landor's arms, on the very couch of infamy; and 
now I beheld her again, apparently entirely in his power. 
I looked for Matilda, and for the school-teacher, but they 
were not there, — my heart sank within me, — I felt that 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 215 

all was lost ! that the wiles of the libertine had at last 
triumphed, and that Henriette was lost, — lost to virtue, — 
to peace, — to every thing pure, and holy, and desirable 
on earth. 

She sat by him on a cushioned bench, which ran 
around the side of the room, watching in mute aston- 
ishment the motions of the table, as it rose and fell, 
without any perceptible cause. Through the center of 
this table passed vertically a huge bar of iron. From 
what I could hear, there was a large magnet being 
moved in the garret, in the same manner as the one in 
the widow Moredock's room. 

Landor's left arm encircled Henriette's slender waist ; 
his right hand joined with her left. She leaned against 
his breast, seemingly in that visionary, half-conscious 
state, that I saw her in on the night of Guysot's death ; 
and he was gazing on her angelic face and fall round 
bosom, with the same lascivious, devouring gaze, as 
though he could scarcely restrain his animal passions. 

I recognized another couple in that group; the 
preacher and Miss Callan. There was a sadness on 
her features that told, too plainly, that to her even the 
commencement of the path of sin had its thorns. The 
other persons in the room appeared, from their dress, to 
be inhabitants of the neighborhood. 



2J6 Lendeeman's Adyentcees among 



CHAPTEK XIX. 

The Spirit of Dr. Rush. Prescribes for Matilda and the Schoolmaster. 
Singular Advice of the Spirit to Henriette. Spiritual Fanatics. 
Poor Henriette ! An importunate Female Member. Three very inter- 
esting Spiritual Widows — Widow Blonde, Widow Openface, the con- 
solable Widow Barnthistle. A sovereign remedy for Widows* Heart 
Wounds. Some Widowers to match. "Widowers' Evil;" its only 
cure. Advice to Married Men who expect to marry again. Marrying 
for a living. "Aunt Betties." How to tell an Old Maid. Extraor- 
dinary personal attraction of a Spinster. A selfish, sensual Man. 
The Lights blown out. How Spirits blow Horns and play on Fiddles. 
How Spiritual Hands and Arms are felt. The Meeting breaks up, 
Landor, the Medium, and Henriette, go off together. 

There was a tall, lauksided woman with very spare 
features, gray eyes, no teeth in front, who was twitch- 
ing, and gaping, and shouting occasionally. She arose 
and commenced talking, with her eyes shut. Landor 
asked her "if the spirit of Doctor Rush was present; 
and if so, if he could consult him in reference to the 
brother and sister who now lay sick." The medium 
answered in the affirmative. 

U I gave them the medicine you recommended last 
night, but they don't seem to be any better ; they sleep 
continually." 

" Continue the same medicine ; it is necessary they 
should sleep two days yet. Then their disease will take 
a turn, and they will get well immediately ; I had many 
such cases, while I was on earth, and I always suc- 
ceeded in curing them by this medicine." 

Henriette seemed to devour the words of the medium. 
She gazed on her with an intensity that involved her 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 217 

whole being. Her lips moved, and she said, u Are you 
sure that Robert and Matilda will recover ?" The me- 
dium paused, and the questioner held her breath. She 
turned pale. Answer her for God's sake, I almost ex- 
claimed, for it seemed that Henriette could not breathe 
till the medium should speak. The medium answered. 
Oh, what relief! Henrietta's deep chest heaved again, 
and with quick inspirations. " They will recover if 
they follow strictly my directions, but you must keep 
away from them; they must have nothing to excite 
them." 

" Oh, how can I," the poor girl replied. " Oh, I will 
not disturb them ; I will not say a word. And I know 
I can nurse them better than any one else. Oh ! do let 
me \>e with them, I pray you," and she fell on her knees 
weeping, with clasped hands; her angelic, heaven-lit 
features, imploring this simple boon, as though her all 
depended on it. 

" No ;" the medium answered, sternly, with an angry 
expression, and a quick gesture of the hand, which 
none but the heart of a devil could have suggested. 

"Do you want to kill your friends?" 

"I tell you, their lives depend on your keeping away 
from them." Henriette sank to the floor. Landor 
raised her up, and bathed her face with water. 

" Give her some wine," the medium said, sternly. 
"Woman," she continued, "you grieve my spirit to 
anger. I command you to stop these silly actions, and 
obey me or you will be cursed with afflictions tenfold 
worse than you now experience." 

This brought her to a state of consciousness ; she 
drank the wine they gave her, mechanically, and sat 
with silent tongue and vacant stare ; at intervals she 
drew a quick, tremulous sigh through her expanded 



218 Lenderman's Adventures among 

nostrils, heaving convulsively her deep chest, as a slum- 
bering infant with trouble in its dawning mind. Thero 
were three or four women in the room who appeared to 
be near the same age (on the moss side of thirty), and 
whose actions were much the same ; one of them, of 
small stature ; light, clear complexion ; very light-brown 
hair, and a light-blue eye, was attracted most power- 
fully to a young man, some five or six years her junior, 
and the opposite as to the color of his eyes and hair. 
He wore a dark, heavy imperial ; the kind that excites 
passional electricity so powerfully when rubbed over a 
female cheek. The little blonde was dressed in black, 
as were also the other ladies above-mentioned. She 
seemed bound to take advantage of the ladies' privilege 
of " leap year," to do the courting ; for never did I see 
a more importunate female lover (or, perhaps, more 
properly — loveress). She almost abashed the object of 
her attentions. Another of these females was a middle- 
sized woman, gray eyes (I think), lips that pouted rather 
too much ; in fact, their pout bordered hard on to a flab ; 
their rubyness had departed long ago ; she had a kind 
of yellowish, sandy-colored hair, which was made to 
form two large wings, or Brazilian bat's-ears, on each 
side of the forehead. They resembled little sheds 1 
have seen, before now, stuck on the south-side of barns 
for cattle to get under in stormy weather. She had a 
tolerable good set of teeth in front; the back ones being 
out, which fact was easily ascertained when she laughed, 
which she did continually. She had an oscillating mo- 
tion of the head, and of the whole body, particularly of 
the hips, — which showed an internal uneasiness or itch- 
ing somewhere, — much as if she felt a flea creeping up 
her back. Her voice was loud, garrulous, chachinna- 
tory, running, spiral-fountain like, a continuous stream. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 219 

Another of these spiritual light artillery women was 
more sedate ; she was dressed in black ; indeed, she 
would have one think, she was melancholy; grieving 
and inconsolable for some dear object, which she onco 
possessed ; some dear Captain Barnthistle for instance. 
That the longing for a new object to be loved was par- 
amount to grieving for the object that was loved, stuck 
out in bold relief. The widow's — (there I have let it 
out, what I did not intend to do — that I believed these 
gallant female characters were young widows), the 
widow's face, then, said, as plain as a subdued smile 
shining through a dissolving cloud of grief, could say, 
"I am very sorrowful, very, — I never can get entirely 
over grieving for my dear Captain Barnthistle; but 
still, I am getting to be consolable, at times, and I think 
if I had some sober, pious companion, some dear brother 
(that is, using the word brother in an associative sense) 
I could be entirely consoled." And so meek and 
downcast were her deep, dark eyes, and her whole de- 
meanor, that no wonder one of the " brothers aforesaid 
was doing his best, with ameliorating words" and elon- 
gated physiognomy, to pour oil over the terrible but 
healing wounds of the disconsolate widow's heart. Our 
word for it, she will recover, and scarce a scar will tell 
where the lacerations were ; — of such powerful efficacy 
is the oil of human sympathy, compared with which all 
other oils, such as sweet oil, corn oil, turkey grease or 
Mustang liniment, are as nothing. I have seen widows' 
hearts, before now, that were one entire mass of ruins, — 
torn so that they could not bleed, — restored in an aston- 
ishingly short period of time, by the application of this 
oil. There were some four or five other characters, 
closely resembling the three widows in actions, but 
they wore forked garments, instead of petticoats. That 



220 Lenderman's Adventures among 

these, like the dear widowed ewes of the flock/ were 
roaming over the barren hills of single cursedness, 
finding only now and then a green spot at which to 
refresh their famishing natures, was evident. Having 
formerly fed in the evergreen fields of matrimony, con- 
tinually up to their eyes in clover, — and ever within 
hearing of the sweet rippling of their meadow brook, — 
and of late being cut completely off from clover and 
brooks, with nothing but dews and accidental showers 
to cool their parched thirst, no wonder that they rushed 
headlong into the first stream, and thrust their noses 
clear under water, in their avidity to quench that insa- 
tiate burning. Many are inclined to laugh at the ab- 
surdities of widowers. But let them experience that 
gnawing at the stomach, for a limited time, that poor 
widowers have to endure for years, and they will rather 
pity them. This " widower's evil," comes from a want 
of exercise of the wooing powers during his matri- 
monial somnolency. Like a lawyer, long out of prac- 
tice, — not posted up as to new laws and precedents, — ■ 
and his tongue stiff from disuse, the poor widower 
enters the bar, the second time, a perfect laughing-stock 
for every insignificant, beardless sprig. It is our advice 
to those entering the matrimonial harbor, and casting 
anchor, to remember, — and especially if their prize be 
a fashionably built and managed clipper, — that circum- 
stances might arise rendering it necessary to raise an- 
chor, and sail again on the rough sea of adventure in 
search of another prize, — and still another, perhaps. 

I will tell you a secret, if you won 't tell anybody ; — 
let me have your ear, so as to whisper it. Marry a 
fashionable lady,— the more fashionable the better, — 
so that the " pile," be of the right size ; — let her have 
her own way, — have her go to balls and theaters every 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 221 

night, — if possible, don't let her take any exercise; — 
keep her shut up in a dark room during daylight ; — you 
need not sew her eyes up as a Dutchman does the eyes 
of his big livered goose; — keep her on the richest 
and most stimulating food and drinks ; — admire the 
color of a potatoe vine growing in the cellar, — the 
angelic waist of the wasp ; — impress on her mind that 
nervous debility, furred tongues and " hysterics," are 
peculiarly feminine ; — I say, marry a fashionable wife 
with the right sort of a " pile," and have her follow this 
regime (but be careful not to follow- it yourself) and you 
may get rich following matrimony for a living. You 
may count on getting four or five " piles," at least. 

Such great improvements have been made, of late, 
in the plastic art and in supplying teeth, eyes, hair, 
changing pale cheeks to red, — wrinkled to smooth, — 
gray hairs and whiskers to black, that you stand a good 
chance of getting the last pile at fifty, if you can only 
walk erect and have "pretty good bottom." 

Taking this view of the matter, it is not a bad idea 
to keep your hand in the practice of wooing, even after 
you marry ; — if you can't find any more agreeable sub- 
ject to practice on, use your wife. Go over one of the 
lessons occasionally, that you practiced in good earnest 
while courting her, — so that when she has been humored 
and pampered to death, you can commence wooing 
again without making yourself ridiculous. 

Xext to the widows, in garrulity, were two or three very 
thin spindle-waisted, collapsed-faced spinsters, — there 
was no mistake about their being old maids ; they 
can not disguise the fact. There are certain infallible 
signs pertaining to all "Aunt Betties," that can not be 
mistaken. AYhen you see a horse stop dead still in 
the road and turn his head round to look at the driver, 



222 Lenderman's Adventures among 

you may swear he is an inveterate balker ; so when you 
see a very thin woman, her waist as small and round as 
a rolling pin, — her arms long and thin, with £ngers 
to match, — her visage sharp and angular, — her mouth 
ever primped, — not to be drawn out into a smile, ex- 
cept at very legitimate wit, — her hair combed smoothly 
down, not a solitary hair out of its place, — her collar 
adjusted by the level and cross hairs of that pair of 
infallible optical theodolites of hers, — not a wrinklo 
in her dress, — not an atom of dust on her dazzling 
white handkerchief; in a word, her whole exterior 
arranged to a hair and a thread, saying, as plainly 
as it could say, "we are not to be ruffled:" — when you 
meet with these symptoms you may safely pflonounco 
the case spinsterism. 

And what heart has courage to approach one of these 
fortifications. We once saw an unfortunate wretch so 
far forget himself as to storm such a battery. Putting 
his arm around her waist, he became fastened there by 
the punctures of a hundred pins, — and such a squawling 
and scratching, and such a looking of daggers ! and 
there the poor fellow was, the pins tearing his flesh and 
he not able to disengage himself; out of sympathy for 
our crucified brother, we cried " hold her close to you, 
is your only chance ;" he took the hint, and need we say 
what followed ; — she fainted (?) — of course. 

There were three or four of this class in the spiritual 
room, though they were not so staid and repellant as 
spinsters generally are. One tall shitepoke-bodied 
specimen, with black hair and codfish face, and bright 
eye and white wax teeth, was quite relaxed from her 
spinster rigidity: she allowed her nicely plaited and 
embroidered jacket to be sadly wrinkled by a sturdy 
arm that encircled her waist; and that starched and 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 223 

nicely-worked collar was quite displaced and turned up 
by her head resting on his breast. It was rather a 
phenomenon to see a female leaning up to such a rough 
masculine. It was like a delicate honeysuckle running 
up the side of a shellbark hickory. He was hard 
featured, hairy, uncombed, and his mouth was a reek- 
ing pool of tobacco juice ; his eye and face indicated 
that his heart had never felt a tender passion or a soft 
emotion ; every thing with him was selfish gratification ; 
the idea that any loftier principle could animate the 
human breast, was a "humbug" with him; — and yet 
so powerfully equalizing was the electrical atmosphere 
of the room, that it caused these two, such decided 
opposites, to flow together. 

Great and potent beyond all other powers, is this 
spiritual electricity, assimilating natures the most in- 
compatible. 

The medium, who still was under spiritual influence, 
said that other physical demonstrations, beside the 
moving of tables, would be given if the lights were 
blown out. One of the brothers extinguished the 
candles. I had noticed before several horns hanging 
up round the room. No sooner were the lights blown 
out, than I heard a drawing of strings through the floor, 
and a faint click as of tin vessels touching the ceil- 
ing, — then there was a hideous commingling of hoarse, 
discordant voices, which seemed to originate in the 
garret and to grow louder and less distinct as they 
issued in the room below. The voices stopped, — there 
was another drawing of strings and a slight shuffling 
in the garret. I heard below, noises like hollow, reso- 
nant bodies clasping gently together. The medium 
said: 

" Reach forth your hands, and feel." 



224 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Quick exclamations from female voices followed : "I 
felt a guitar," — "I felt a violin," — "I'm sure, I felt a 
human hand." 

I heard something fall at my side. I felt it. It was 
the hand, no doubt, that the person below had felt. It 
was a stuffed bag in the shape of a hand and arm, 
covered w T ith some satin-like substance ; the bones, 
however, were wanting. 

Musical sounds were now heard, and tunes were 
played on violins, drums, and triangles. These sounds 
originated in the garret. " Oh dears !" and " Oh mys !" 
and "My Gods," were now as plentiful as musquetoes 
in a July evening. 

The music stopped, and the candles were lit again. 
Henriette seemed to have become composed, though she 
sat with melancholy, stupid stare, her eyes cast on the 
floor. I noticed Miss Callan sitting near her reverend 
seducer ; she appeared melancholy and absent-minded, 
as though her thoughts were wandering elsewhere than 
on the fantastic group around her; she perhaps was 
thinking of her girlhood's home, when innocence, and 
virtue, and happiness were hers ; — of a mother who 
watched over her in sickness and health, — whose ear 
was ever open to her daughter's voice, either in the busy 
bustlings of the day or in the still oblivion of night ; 
that mother whose unwearied hand was always ready to 
prepare her for school, or for Sunday school, or for 
church; that mother that learned her to say, each 
night : 

" Now I lay me down to sleep, 
I pray thee, Lord, my life to keep ; 
If I should die before I wake, 
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take." 

And where was that home now; where that mother! 




THE SPIRITUALISTS' HALL. 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 2l ; 5 

Oh! she was miserable ; — she felt how lost she was, — 
how cheaply she had sold her happiness, — her all. 
Verify "the way of the transgressor is hard! the wages 
of sin is death ! The medium here indicated that no 
more demonstrations would take place that night, and 
having been released of the spirit, sat c^)wn by Landor. 

"Will you go home with me, Miss Brandon?'' she 
asked ; " the spirits say it is not good for you to be with 
the invalids." 

"Oh ! how can I ? It is too much to ask of me. I will 
not disturb them. I will not go in the room where they 
lie. If I can only be in the house, that I may know how 
they are, and do every thing that I can to help them." 

"We have had directions, that it is not good for you 
to be with them. You can not know what is for their 
good, as well as the spirit of the greatest of physicians. 
It is not right for you to wish to do your friends harm, 
if their company is agreeable to you. 

"I must yield; but, oh ! it is like taking me from the 
world, — from every friend, — to keep me away from 
them. Oh! that I had never left my father's house. 
What other trials am I yet to pass through !" 

"Henriette, it is wrong, very wrong for you to worry 
yourself in this manner, — you will be sick yourself the 
next thing you know; beside, I don't think it very 
grateful for you to intimate that you have but two 
friends in the world. I am sure that there are others 
who have tried, by every means in their power, to make 
themselves your friends ; and is this the way they are 
to be rewarded ? Eather poor encouragement, I must 
confess." 

Henriette dropped her head in her hands and wept. 
Landor gave the medium a pleased, significant look 
over Henriette's shoulder, as much as to say, "This is 



226 Lexdkemax's Adventures among 

the right string to touch ;— her sense of gratitude will 
make her yield. Let us appear to do her all the favors 
we can, and she will not resist our wishes. Her grate- 
ful heart will not let her deny us." 

" Come, let's go, 5 ' said Landor. " Will you take my 
arm, Mrs. Madden ?— and you, Henriette? It's a fine 
thing we brought an umbrella to-night, or we all should 
have got a good ducking," said Landor, in a laughing 
manner, ill-becoming the deep depression that bore 
down the gentle being by his side. 

" Yes indeed !" chimed in Mrs. Madden, with a forced 
laugh that a hell-hag might chatter over a victim about 
to be damned. The three left the hall, being the last of 
the company. 

I was touched on the shoulder, and immediately I 
followed my guide down the rope-ladder. I slipped the 
piece of money in his hand and hastened after the light 
(which Landor carried), as it slowly penetrated the thick 
darkness. 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Medium. Mrs. Madden's House. A Drunken Visitor. Horrid 
Plot of Poisoning revealed. Two Assistants admitted. The Preacher 
again. A terrible Dilemma. Imploring Divine assistance. Landor 
confident of the consummation of his bliss ; his deceptive appeal 
to Henriette. Davison's fidelity impeached. A forged Letter. A 
gross act of Brutality about to be committed. The Narrator. Recog- 
nition. A fierce Struggle. HeDriette's supplications for her Friend, 
A conscience-stricken Man. The Red-Man. His cruel alternative to 
Henriette. Her sacrifice to save her Friend. A moment of unut- 
terable Agony. Death of the Feelings. A desperate attempt to 
Escape frustrated. 

The three entered a small cottage, having two front 
rooms, into one of which the front door opened ; from 
this room a door opened into the other front room, in 
which was a fire, and a light burning, The curtains 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 227 

were not drawn when I first entered, and I could see 
that it was a very comfortable apartment; having a 
carpet, lounges, easy-chairs, and a bed in one corner, 
with snow-white pillows and counterpane. I heard a 
footstep approaching from behind. I stepped round 
the corner of the house. There was an irregular rap- 
ping on the door. Landor came out, asking, "Who's 
there?" 

" Its m-m-me." 

u Why, Jack, I 'm astonished that you 've left your 
business to come here ; what 's the matter ? I 'm afraid 
you 've been drinking, Jack." 

" N-n-no-sir-ee. I '11 1-1-lam you, if you — (hie) — c- 
c-castup any such in-in-sinuations as-tha — (hie) — that." 

u Oh, 1 did not mean any offense, but, you know, I 
am depending a great deal on you, and if you should 
neglect your duty, it would frustrate all my plans. You 
are all right enough, Jack, but I do ask of you, as a 
favor, that you won't drink any more to night ; for if 
you can only keep them asleep to night, it will all be 
over. How are they getting along, — and how long 
since you left them, Jack ?" 

"Oh, I guess — (hie) — guess it's been 'bout c-cu- 
couple of hours, by the way I — (hie) — feel." 

"You haven't got any liquor with you, have you, 
Jack?" 

" N-n-no only what I 've-g-got in he — (hie) — here. I 
couldn't stand it si-si-sittin' up to night, without one 
h-ho-horn any how, but it '11 all gi-git worked — (hie) — 
(hie) — out on the road, for its aw-awful rainy and 
gla-glary to-night." 

"I 'm afraid they '11 wake up before you get back." 

"No they w-w r o-won't, for I give 'era a he-he-h — 1 of 
a dese before I left." 
20 



228 Lenderman's Adventures among 

" But what did you come here for, Jack ?" 

" 'Cause, I wanted to 1-1-let ye know 'twas all r-r — 
(hie) — right, as yer left leg." 

" Well, get back as soon as you can, Jack." 

" Y-ye-yes, of course, I will." 

He was no sooner gone, than two men were admitted, 
by Landor, at the front door. 

" I don't know as I shall need you to-night," he said, 
in a low voice, " but I want you here. I am a-going to 
bring this thing to a head to-night. I am a-going to 
accomplish my object by fair means or foul. And it 
shall be done to-night; there never will be a more favor- 
able opportunity. No one here to disturb us, and no 
danger of being heard from without, this rainy night ; 
and her friends are so fast asleep that they will not 
even dream of us." 

" Yes, if you are determined to carry out your plans, 
you will probably not have a better time," one of the 
men replied, whose voice I recognized as the preacher's. 

"I am very sorry to keep you from your charming 
Ada to-night, Mr. Falleau, but may-be we can spare 
you before morning. Take off your boots here, at the 
door, and go up-stairs in your stocking feet. There is 
a candle burning at the head of the stairs ; go in the 
room to the right, and you will find a bed; — lie down 
with your clothes on ; if you hear a bell ring, come down 
into the room below." 

Stillness again prevailed. I went round to the win- 
dow, but the curtains were drawn. What was I to do? 
I dared not leave Henriette. I did think of groping my 
way back to the tavern, get help and rescue her at once ; 
but then, it was so dark that I could not distinguish an 
object a rod from me, and I could not see another light 
an v where. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 229 

If I should venture away from the house, I should 
probably lose myself entirely. The thought occurred 
to me of alarming the neighborhood, by crying murder ! 
at the top of my voice. But then this might be the 
means of stopping my voice entirely ; for, if these men 
should find me here to-night, following their steps, and 
trying to snatch their coveted prize from them, the second 
time, I fear it will go hard with me ; inasmuch as I have 
no weapons with me, and it is probable I am not able 
to master either one of them by main strength. What 
to do I knew not. A struggle with these fellows, under 
such unfavorable circumstances, must result in my 
death, with probably no good to her whom I wish to 
save. The prospect was gloomy. A rescue seemed 
hopeless. A stream of light darted through my mind, 
overshadowed with the thick gloom around me. Is 
there not a God ! an invisible, all-powerful being ! who 
causes the weak to triumph over the mighty! These 
questions streamed, like rays of Divine light, on my 
soul. I had been in dark situations before, where every 
thing was gloomy and hopeless ; I had asked assistance 
of God, whose ear is ever open to the petitions of his 
creatures. I always felt that my petitions were answered. 
The path always seemed brighter, the obstacles less for- 
midable after an earnest, confiding prayer to the Al- 
mighty. I raised my soul, wicked and unworthy as it 
was, in humble and earnest supplication to the throne 
of Heaven. I wrestled in agony of spirit for the bless- 
ing, for assistance in this trying situation. "It is not 
for me, unworthy and thankless as I am, that I implore 
thine assistance, oh, God! but for a pure, innocent 
being, — defenseless, in the hands of the destroyer, — 
about to be immolated on the altar of lust." I felt 



230 Lenderman's Adventures among 

stronger ; there seemed to be au assurance in my breast 
that virtue should triumph. 

By trying the front door, I found it was ajar, so per- 
fectly secure in the possession of his victim, did Landor 
feel. There seemed to be no margin for a failure. This 
long and patient labor is about to be rewarded with the 
prize for which he has contended. I stepped inside the 
room. Feeling a large cloak hanging up near the door 
opening into the room where Landor and his company 
were, I risked concealing myself behind it, in case any 
one should enter the room. In the middle of the upper 
panel of the door was a single pane of glass, over the 
inside of which a green silk curtain played, fastened 
with rings on a couple of wires. This curtain was 
about half drawn over the glass, affording me a view 
of the entire inside of the room. Landor and Henri - 
ette were there alone, sitting near the fire ; she was 
gazing vacantly at the burning wood, — despair was de- 
picted in her pale face. Landor gradually drew his 
chair near her, and was speaking with the tenderest 
words, and tenderest looks he was master of, gazing 
upon her with devouring intensity. 

Seeming to catch a favorable expression, he grasped 
each of her hands in his, and fell on his knees before 
her, saying, " Henriette, I love you more than any other 
being on earth. Oh, you do not know how my heart, — - 
my soul, — my all is yours ! Can not I have a return for 
my love ? Don't refuse me ; — it will be my death-blow." 
As if startled by some warning voice, she drew sud- 
denly back from him. 

" I can not, Landor ; — your wife ! — your family !" 

"Did I not tell you, I have a divorce from my wife? 
Did I not tell you, I never loved her ! — that she drew 



The Spikitcalists and Fkek-Lovers. 231 

me into a difficulty, and then appealed to my honor 
to save her from disgrace? And did I not tell you 
how I lived a living death with her, till I found she 
was false to me ? And now I am divorced, — I am free. 
If you do not believe it, here is the article," drawing a 
paper from his pocket. "Here is my bill of divorce," 
and reading it, I noticed there was no Court 6eal on 
the document. 

" But my heart belongs to another, Landor. I can 
respect you as a friend, for the kindness you have shown 
me, but my heart is not mine to give." 

A deep glare of hatred gleamed in Landor s eye ; but 
neither his voice nor face betrayed it. He knew the 
female heart too well to try (if it could be avoided) 
to degrade the object of her love ; for this would excite 
her disgust and anger against him and bind her more 
closely to the object of her affections. 

" Yes," he said, " Davison is a very good sort of a 
fellow, but I don't believe he will ever live to be your 
husband." 

Henriette started back, shocked at this dreadful 
announcement. 

" It can not be ; you jest, sir. Do not trifle with me 
in this manner." 

What a piercing, anxious look she directed on him ; 
her whole soul was concentrated in that searching 
glance. With clasped hands and pallid cheek, scarcely 
breathing, she whispered : 

" You are not in earnest, sir; you can not be. Oh ! 
don't torture me with such trifling. I must go and see 
him." She sprang to the bureau where her shawl 
and bonnet lay. 

I was satisfied, from the outbursting of her feelings, 



232 Lenderman's Adventures among 

that her heart was Davison's ; that her short acquaint- 
anceship with him had resulted in deep affection. 

Landor saw the mistake he had made. He could not 
appreciate the depth of woman's love. He had gone 
too far, and correcting himself, he said : 

"Oh, fie! Henriette. I was only jesting. He is 
doing well enough ; so put down your things, and make 
yourself contented. You would look nice, going three 
miles through mud, knee-deep, such a night as this." 

64 Oh! why did you talk so?" she asked, laughing 
and crying hysterically, the tears glistening in her glad 
eyes, that made her beauty more fascinating than ever. 

" I am not sorry I alarmed her," thought the gloating 
libertine. "I never saw her so bewitchingly lovely be- 
fore." That this thought was in his mind was evident, 
as he gazed with sensual satisfaction in her face, radiant 
as a May morn glittering with brilliant dewdrops. 

"Sit down, my pretty bird, and compose yourself," 
he tenderly and smilingly said, putting his arm around 
her waist and taking hold of her hand. 

"I don't feel like talking any more; — let me go to 
my room," she said, gently withdrawing herself from 
his embrace. 

Landor half dropped his head, as if in uncertainty 
what to do. Henriette was about leaving the room at 
the back door. My heart ceased its beatings, in anxiety 
for her departure. I almost exclaimed aloud: — "Be 
quick, — fly, — or you are lost." Her hand was on the 
latch; — she raised it; — the click started Landor; — he 
rose up quickly. 

"See here, Henriette!" 

"Oh! I want to go." 

" Come back one moment. I have something import- 



The Spikitualilts and Free-Lovers. 233 

ant to tell you. Come and sit down a moment," taking 
her hand and leading Her reluctantly back to the chair. 
"I have something very disagreeable to tell you. I 
don't know whether you will believe me or not; but I 
think it my duty to tell you, before it goes any further. 
To be brief, — Davison is false to you ; — he is deceiving 
you ; — he has a wife living in New Jersey. 

"It is false!" Henriette exclaimed, rising to her feet, 
her eyes flashing w r ith anger, that I supposed could not 
exist there. 

"I expected you would not believe me," Landor coolly 
replied ; " but sit down and I will soon convince you that 
it is true. Just sit down a moment, till I return." 

He lit another candle and came into the room where 
I was. Going to the farther end of the room, he opened 
a desk and commenced writing; having finished, he 
blew the paper, holding it to the candle to dry ; then he 
put it in an envelope and wrote on the envelope, after- 
ward tearing its edges to make it look as though it had 
been sealed and opened. Having dried the ink he 
returned to Henriette, who was walking the room, 
wringing her hands in silent agony, breathing in an 
almost inaudible whisper. " It can not be. No, I will 
not believe it. I can not believe it." 

"Here is a letter I put in my pocket inadvertently, 
yesterday, as I was dosing out some medicine for Davi- 
son. I took up the letter from the floor, tore off a piece 
to put some medicine in, and put the rest in my pocket. 
I accidentally looked at it afterw r ard, and found, to my 
surprise, that it was from Davison's wife, reproving him 
for his neglect of her. I will read it, — sit down." 

"No, I don't want to see it; take it away," she 
gasped, and staggered helplessly backward. 

Landor caught her and bore her to a lounge. I saw 



234 Lenderman's Adventures among 

by the devilish, beastly lust glaring in his eye, that he 
was drunk with passion. It was evident that he would 
Beize this auspicious moment to consummate his brutal 
desires ; while his victim was insensible and incapable 
of resistance. He unpinned the cape that covered her 
white shoulders, and gently passed his hand in her 
bosom. — As a surgeon feels the most sensitive part of 
his patient, when administering chloroform, to learn 
when there is complete insensibility, so Landor, would 
learn the effect of the agent he had used, more stupe- 
fying than chloroform. 

She involuntarily grasped his hand and shrieked. 

I could be still no longer. I took no thought of 
consequences, but rushed in the room. Landor turned 
on me. He knew me. 

For a moment we silently stood, face to face. Henri- 
ette, restored from her swoon, recognized me. 

" Oh ! she shrieked, calling me by name, God 

has sent you to save me," and she grasped my knees in 
ecstasy. 

Landor recovered his presence of mind, and rang 
the bell. I heard the men coming down the steps. — 
What should I do ? They came into the room. Landor 
now took courage. 

"Here is that cursed hound that has dogged my steps 
everywhere ; he 's continually sticking his infernal nose 
into my business. Let's make an end of him now." 

" Oh, mercy! mercy!" screamed Henriette. 

"Shut your mouth, hussy,— or I '11 break your head," 
growled Landor, making an attempt to grasp a chair. 

"What shall we do with the d — d scoundrel?" 

The companion of the preacher, a short, thick-set man 
with red whiskers, red face, red nose, yellowish red 
eyes, — the very impersonation of brutality and crime, 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 235 

raised his chin and drew his extended fore-finger signifi- 
cantly across his throat. 

" Enough said," take hold of him, cried Landor, pre- 
ferring the red-man should have the job. 

" Oh, don't, — don't hurt him ; save him ! Oh, do save 
him; oh, do save him, won't you !" begged, Henriette. 

"Down with him," shouted, Landor; and for his part 
he dragged Henriette away, holding his hand firmly 
over her mouth, for she uttered screams for mercy, that 
would have pierced any heart, but a demon's. The red- 
man seized me, calling on the preacher to help him. 
They overcame me, and with handkerchiefs tied my feet 
together, and my hands behind me, and they tied one 
over my mouth. They also tied Henriette in the same 
manner. 

I could see that this was hard work for the preacher ; 
his heart had not become sufficiently calloused to do this 
business with alacrity. 

"Come in the other room," said Landor. They left; 
closing the door after them. I could hear part of their 
conversation, at times. 

"You haven't got the pluck of a sheep," said the 
voice of the red-man ; " leave it to me ; I '11 do it. Just 
let me fix it, and you may bet your life it '11 be done 
right." 

" Oh, this is horrible," said another voice, which was 
the conscience-stricken preacher's. "I wish I were out 
of it." 

"Come along, baby ;" and I heard footsteps 

going out of the front door. I saw by the reflection of 
a light through the window that they carried a lantern. 

"Do it up right, Lu," I heard Landor say from with- 
out. 

"Aw av, never fear," said the red-man from the 
21 



236 Lendkrman's Advektcres among 

door. Presently he came in, and taking hold of my 
collar, dragged me to the farther part of the other room, 
and then returned, drawing the door to after him. 

I worked myself to the door ; it was not quite closed ; 
I raised myself to my feet, and could see and hear what 
passed in the room. The red-man, standing over Hen- 
riette, was saying: "Henriette, if you '11 agree to talk 
low, and not to scream, I '11 untie the handkerchief from 
your mouth; but if you holler, I'll tie it tighter than 
ever." With this, he took the handkerchief off. 

"Do you want to save this fellow's life," said he, 
rudely shaking her by the shoulder. 

"His life! what mean you? You surely would not 
harm him ! I beg you " 

"Hush, and hear what I have to say; you can save 
this fellow's life in one way, and no other ; consent to 
be Landor's wife. Tell this fellow so, and that it is 
your own free will ; and ask him to leave you, and not 
to say any thing about it to any one, and his life shall be 
saved, and you shall live in the first style. What do you 
say ? If you consent, you must become Landor's wife 
to-night. He must have the right of a husband before 
we will let this fellow go. What do you say? I give 
you but ten minutes for an answer. If you refuse, this 
bottle of heaven-drops shall put him to sleep, so that he 
will never wake. And you then shall be Landor's, 
whether you will or not; and instead of being his wife, 
you shall be his mistress ; do you hear ?" he said, with 
a savage accent to his voice, and a demoniac glare in 
his bloodshot eyes. " If I was Landor, I wouldn't 
bother with you in this way. I would like your resist- 
ance all the better ; it would add flavor to the draught. 
Come, make up your mind, quick ; for if I stand here 
my passions may make me cheat Landor out of his 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 237 

rights. I will give you ten minutes to decide. Will 
you be Landor's wife? and save the life of this fellow, 
who has risked it for you, or will you kill him, and be 
Landor's 6lave? Ten minutes, I say ;" and he drew out 
an old bull's-eye watch ; " it is now fifteen minutes past 
one ; may-be your mind 's made up, and don't want to 
wait. Will you be Landor's wife?" 

She raised her head, but oh ! what an expression of 
agony was depicted in her face, as she fell before this 
brute, and plead with him. How did those soul-speak- 
ing eyes implore his mercy! Even his brute heart 
understood them. "You needn't look good at me; 
there 's no use of your taking on, and begging that way ; 
you can't move me. I shall do just what I say, and 
man or devil can't stop me. I 'in glad it rains to-night, 
for there's no danger of any one bothering me. No 
human being but ourselves can know what happens 
here. Landor and the preacher have gone. They have 
left it to me; they know I will not flinch." If possi- 
ble this added another pang to her sufferings. She 
turned her eyes upward, as if in prayer; and I joined 
my silent prayer with hers. "My God, hast thou for- 
saken us ; oh, help, save us !" My soul plead as never 
before ; and light seemed to break in on it. I seemed to 
have an assurance that we should be delivered. 

"Understand too, Miss," her tormentor continued, 
"you refuse, and I am obliged to stop this fellow's wind; 
you will be kept confined, away from the world, a pris- 
oner, so that you can not testify against us. So make up 
your mind, quick. You have only two minutes more." 

Those two moments were moments of unutterable 
agony ; they were to give me life or death ; they were 
to give her worse than death. She had no alternative. 
Infinitely worse were her prospects than mine. Her 



238 Lenderman's Adventures among 

fearful suspense was broken in upon by the monster's 
voice, for he appeared now to be an incarnate devil, 
sent to torment her. 

"The time 's up." Henrietta shrieked with terror. 
Gazing into the monster's face, with the intense stare 
of a maniac. 

Putting the watch into his pocket, with "What d'ye 
say," he commenced rolling up his sleeves, and step- 
ping round as if he were about to undertake some 
ordinary work. 

During the last terrible moments, Henriette wept and 
raved, except when checked by her persecutor, like one 
deranged. She plead and begged with all her soul, to 
be spared this humiliation, but in vain. As well might 
she have plead with a tiger over its bleeding prey. 

"Will you be Landor's wife or not? I can't wait 
any longer," and he turned toward the door. 

" Oh ! stop," she exclaimed ; " do with me what you 
will, but save him." 

This final conquest was a blow that severed every 
hope of peace to her on earth. Her heart seemed to 
sink at the awful thought of what she had consented to 
do. She closed her eyes ; overcome by such inhuman 
barbarity. The monster returned to her side, and put- 
ing his hand roughly on her shoulder, said: "I under- 
stand that you consent to become Landor's wife to-night, 
willingly, without any objections or fuss about it ; and 
that you tell this fellow that it is of your own free will ; 
that you love Landor, and want to be his wife ; that you 
will do all this in good spirits ; and that you will never 
say you were forced into it. Do I understand you to 
consent to all this ?" She closed her eyes and bowed 
her head ; she seemed to have passed the ordeal ; her feel- 
ings were seared, as the feeling of the sensitive nerve is 



The Spiritualists and Fkee-Lovkrs. 239 

destroyed by the hot iron ; her spirits seemed to have 
been killed by the iron cruelty with which it had been 
pierced ; the dreadful gulf was passed ; she was resigned 
to her fate, dreadful though it was. No searings could 
now affect her deadened spirit. 

Oh, what an awful condition is that in which the 
feelings are killed ! What awful sufferings must that 
being go through before this death takes place ! how 
lamentable the condition ; and, how unutterably infer- 
nal the fiends, that can coolly crucify and sear the spirit 
to death ! 

" Listen," said he, rousing her by another rough 
shake. "I am going after Landor, and Mrs. Madden, 
and the preacher ; this friend of yours will be brought 
into the room, and the preacher will marry you; — will 
you be pleasant ; and say that you are willing? Recol- 
lect, if you don't, we shall not give you another chance." 

She bowed assent. I crept from the door; the red-man 
left the house. I worked my way to the door again and 
opened it by hooking the latch in the handkerchief 
that was over my mouth. I got near to Henri ette and 
succeeded in untieing her hands; she then loosed 
her feet and my hands, although her agitation and hurry 
made her slow in doing it. We were now freed except 
for the bandages around my feet, and I was just untie- 
ing them, she whispering " hurry, — hurry," and hardly 
knowing what she was about. 

I had the knot loosened, — when, — death to our hopes ! 
the door opened, and our persecutors entered. 

u Jump through the window," I cried to Henriette. 
But she stood speechless, helpless, paralyzed with terror! 
like the miserable dreamer in some nightmare, seeing 
horrid and inevitable death before him, but unable to 
move from it. 



240 Lenderman's Adventures among 

"D — n your ungrateful heart," yelled the red mon- 
ster, the fires of hell glaring in his lurid eye, — "I'll fix 
you," he muttered, dragging me from the room. Henri- 
ette threw herself on his arms screaming "Mercy! mercy! 
Oh, save him ! I will do any thing you say, Oh save 
him!" Landor and the preacher interfered and the 
brute relaxed his grasp. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Change of Policy. A gloomy Marriage Feast; The Ceremony. A 
hopeless Intervention. The Narrator summarily dealt with. The 
Death Struggle. The Spirit World. A Delightful Vision. Davi- 
son's Escape. How he comes to the Narrator'6 assistance. His Story. 
Some good that Whisky did. Spiritual Medicine. Providential 
Interference. Rendering thanks to God. Matilda. A Sad Sight. A 
Poisoned Woman. How News circulates in a little Town. How 
Neighbors' characters are found out. Mrs. Labial and " Neighbor- 
over-the-fence." The Town Pump. "Mrs. Labial" "makes tracks." 
The Story about Jack. The astonishment and horror of the 
Burghers at the late Tragedy. Judge Lynch. " The Birds are flown/' 
" Sloping." 

" Are you willing to do as you agreed?" said Landor 
in a bland voice to her. 

" Yes, oh, yes ! I will do any thing." 

I attempted to speak, but the brute struck me on the 
mouth, saying, " D — n you, dry up." 

" Let him alone," said Landor ; "It will all be right 
yet;" and then he addressed me with singular polite- 
ness ; — "excuse us, sir, for being so rude with you ; but 
you know how one's passions will sometimes run away 
with their better judgment. Come, let 's all make up 
friends, and bring this unpleasant affair to a pleasant 
termination." Saying this, he unbound my feet, and 
by the pleasantest and most affectionate language, tried 



The Spiritualists and Fkek-Lovkrs. 211 

to gain me over to his cause. M Come in the other room, 
and let's have some refreshments." He called Mrs. 
Madden, who had fled to the back room, to bring in 
some wine and cake. Henriette, although trying to 
appear composed, was consumed with horrid anticipa- 
tions of what was to follow. She forced down, at their 
urgent solicitation, a few mouthfuls of cake and a few 
swallows of wine. Landor and his preacher, and Mrs. 
Madden, tried their best to make themselves agreeable ; 
but how jarring, how revolting were their jests and 
laughter, — they added poignancy to the iron grief that 
already tore the heart of Henriette. She sat as an 
automaton, doing as she was bid. Her spirit was 
gone ; despair had taken its place ; she was prepared 
to do implicitly the will of her destroyers. The muscle 
man sat silently eating and drinking with a cloud over- 
shadowing his visage; he seemed angry that he had been 
cheated of his prey. 

The wine now began to make itself manifest in the 
increased talk, — flushed faces, — the gloating animal 
eyes. Landor gave a significant look and nod to the 
preacher, who, rising to his feet steadying himself by a 
chair, said: " Well, I suppose, we might as w r ell go 
through with this ceremony, as it is getting late ; or, 
rather, — getting early ; and, for one, I feel as if I wanted 
some sleep. Mrs. Madden, will you act as bridemaid ; 
and you, sir, addressing me, as bridegroom ?" 

I could say nothing. I sat as if bound powerless to 
my seat. 

"Let the sulky alone," muttered Lu, "I 'mat your 
service." 

'Come," said the preacher, lifting me by the arm. 

"Do as they say," spoke Henriette, pale and trembling, 
the drops of agony starting from her bloodless brow. 



242 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Mrs. Madden supported her as she stood, like an 
unconscious statue. The preacher took her resistless 
hand, and joined it with Landor's, repeating this brief 
ceremony : 

"Do you take this woman for your lawful wife?" 
Landor answered, Yes. " Do you take this man to be 
your lawful husband ?" He stopped for an answer. A 
more deathly paleness came over those angelic features. 
Her soul seemed to be struggling in throes of mortal 
agony. She leaned on her supporter, her bloodless lips 
parted, — she was about to seal her doom. 

"No!" I shouted, springing to my feet, and felling 
Landor with a blow. Again I was seized, amid 
screams, and yells, and curses. I was knocked down 
and dragged from the room, the blood trickling down 
my neck. The fiend who was thirsting for my life, 
drew a knife from his bosom, and raised it to thrust 
in my breast ; — I saw it glitter over me. Oh ! what 
thoughts rushed through my mind, in that instant; an 
age was lived over; — my whole life was spread out before 
me. It were vain to attempt describing the feelings, 
when on the brink of eternity, — stepping from life to 
immortality. Is there a life beyond the grave ? Yes, — I 
know there is, — I saw it, — I almost breathed its air. 

Had I been the stubbornest of skeptics, that view of 
immortality would have banished all skepticism from 
my mind. The knife descended like a gleam of light- 
ning; it struck my watch, and glanced again. I sum- 
moned all my strength. I grasped the knife, its edge cut- 
ting to the bone of my hand ; but I held it. I was alone 
with my murderer. Landor and the preacher had shut 
the door on us, not wishing to see the bloody tragedy. 
I wound my left hand in my antagonist's neck-tie. I 
twisted it with the grip of death. Thus we struggled. 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 2i3 

I was growing faint from loss of blood, — my grasp was 
relaxing, — I fell, — a crash, — a dead blow. The red face 
of my murderer disappeared, and the face of a savior 
came in its place. — The world seemed to pass away, — 
a cloud passed over me, — and all w r as dark. Is this 
death! Am I in the spirit-land! Oh, what singular 
feelings, w T hen I awoke to consciousness. It was like 
waking from a horrid nightmare ; the mind confused and 
uncertain whether it be in a real or imaginary existence. 

The first thought that struggled in my mind was, — 
am I dead! Gradually, objects, — material objects, 
revealed themselves to my vision. I beheld, indis- 
tinctly, — as through a mist, — anxious faces bending 
over me, — Davison and Mr. Brandon, — w T ith starting 
eyes, and parted lips, as if quivering on the cruel spear 
of suspense. Henriette, with clasped hands, and up- 
turned eyes, — her very soul speeding heaven-ward in 
silent supplication. 

I felt a chafing on my temples and arms ; the familiar 
odor of camphor greeted my nostrils, — I came to com- 
plete consciousness ; I was, indeed, on this side the 
grave. I now began to feel pain in my hand, which 
grew more intense, as I became more conscious. I 
could see distinctly the faces that were around me. I 
spoke. — The first word thrilled Henriette with joy ; that 
gushing of earnest gratitude, that flowed from her pure 
heart to the good God whom she supplicated ; the ex- 
tatic joy of being the object of that gratitude ; the object 
of those angel prayers was more than recompense for 
all that I had suffered. Little sacrifice would it be to 
lay down one's life at such a celestial shrine. I recov- 
ered rapidly, though still weak from loss of blood. I 
had my wounds dressed, and insisted on being told how 
matters had assumed this favorable turn. 



24:4: Lenderman's Adventures amoxg 

"The story is soon told," said Davison, my nurse, 
"Jack (thank God for one good thing whisky did), 
"getting drunk, neglected to give me my medicine, or 
rather my poison, by which I was kept insensible. I 
recovered my consciousness. Jack lay on the floor stu- 
pefied with liquor, muttering disconnected words, and 
parts of sentences, as a drunken man is apt to do." 

" Must ke-keep feller s-s-leep t' night. L-L-Landor '11 
fix 't t' night. D-d — d tedious d-dosin this feller. N-n- 
nice gal ! d — d fancy ! S-s-she 's a g-g-go-ner t' night ; 
wish I 's in Landor's b-boots — (hie) — t' night !" 

The fearful truth burst on my mind, that I had been 
a victim to a plot for the destruction of my fair charge ; 
some inspiration seemed to tell me that she was in 
danger, commanding me to hasten to her rescue. I 
sprang from the bed ; my head dizzy and reeling from 
the effects of the stupefying draughts; I imagined I 
could see Henriette contending in the arms of her de- 
stroyer, and imploring me for assistance. I dressed 
myself as quickly as possible, and came to the tavern 
where you put up, through mud, and rain, and dark- 
ness ; but a light gleamed before me, brighter than the 
star that leads the mariner to his wished-for haven, — 
the hope of saving an innocent being from destruc- 
tion. I was met at the tavern door by a man who ap- 
peared to be in great agitation and trouble. . 

"Oh, 1 thought you were my companion," he ex- 
claimed. "A friend came with me here; he went out 
in the early part of the evening, and has not returned. 
I fear something has happened him. I have been try- 
ing to get the landlord to go with me in search of him ; 
but he will not listen to me, nor even furnish me with 
a lantern. Are you acquainted in this place?" 

" Yes." 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 245 

" Will you assist rne to find my companion ?" 

"With all my heart," I replied: "but I am also in 
search of one more dear to me than any other being can 
be. I must find her first." 

"It is singular," continued he, "that we should hap- 
pen to meet at such a time, in such an out-of-the-way 
place, and on such similar business. May I ask your 
name?" 

" Robert Davison." 

"My God! you are sent here by Heaven; where i3 
is my daughter, Henriette? Oh, where is my child!" 

"Mr. Brandon! is it possible!" grasping his hand, 
hardly daring to believe my too active imagination. 

"I am her father," he continued, almost wild with 
excitement ; " where is she ! Oh ! let me know quickly, 
is she safe?" And he so overwhelmed me with ques- 
tions, that I could not speak." 

" I am in search of her !" 

" Oh, God ! she is lost; she is lost! Tell me all, oh, 
quickly, I can not endure this torturing suspense." 

I then related to him what had happened from the time 
you left me in charge of the ladies. That I was certain 
their coming here was all a plot, — skillfully laid and 
carried out, — to effect the ruin of his daughter ; — that 
when Matilda saw how she had been so wickedly de- 
ceived, — De Long not being her father, — which she 
found out two nights after you left, in a conversation 
that passed between the man and his wife, supposing 
no one heard them ; it prostrated her with grief; she 
became sick, and has been out of her head ever since; 
though, I think, she has been made worse by the medi- 
cine they have given her, through the directions of the 
medium. A week ago, I took tea at De Long's, and 



246 Lenderman's Adventures among 

was taken sick immediately afterward. I was carried 
to the house of one of the wicked clique, that is com- 
mitting such horrid crimes, under the garb of Spiritual- 
ism ; and I am satisfied, that I have been kept there, 
helpless ever since, by the stupefaction of the drugs that 
have been given me. This infernal course of poisoning 
commenced soon after the arrival of a couple of gentle- 
men whom Henriette appeared to know ; but for whom 
she seemed to have an instinctive horror, — for what 
reason I could not imagine, at first, but on the same 
afternoon that I took tea at De Long's, she revealed all 
to me. Some great dread, however, kept her in abject 
fear of them. One of them, Landor, seemed to exercise 
an irresistible fascination empower of some kind over 
her. She charged me, with all the energy of her nature, 
to keep secret what had been said : she had put confi- 
dence in me because, she said, " I seemed to be all the 
friend she now had, Matilda being, as it were, deranged 
and hastening to the grave." Oh ! how it grieved and 
wounded her heart to see that being, who had been a 
mother to her, raving in wild paroxyms of agony ; and 
she, by the direction of the medium, was denied the 
privilege of administering at Matilda's bed-side. I 
had become deeply interested in Henriette. Never be- 
fore had I seen a being that so wholly captivated my 
heart, — her image was in my mind continually, — I 
would have sacrificed every thing, even life, to have 
served her. When she told me the circumstances that 
had happened to her and Matilda, a part of which you 
had previously hinted at, I saw through the whole plot. 
I was astonished at such cold-blooded villainy. I could 
hardly believe that such wickedness could assume the 
human shape. I resolved to bring these fiends to jus- 



The Spiritctalists and Free-Lovers. 247 

tice; to have them arrested that very day. Landor 
came to De Long's just before tea time ; I was introduced 
to him. I noticed a whispering between him and Dc 
Long's wife ; she had, no doubt, watched the intimate 
conversation between Henriette and myself, and my 
countenance, no doubt, betrayed my thoughts. I felt 
that it did ; I could not help it ; it was a bitter task to 
speak respectfully to those heartless wretches who w r ere 
thus deliberately planning the destruction of a being, 
compared with them, as the angel of light to the power 
of darkness. To avoid suspicion, I took tea with them ; 
and I am convinced that some of my food or drink was 
drugged, for I took sick immediately afterward. Mr. 
Brandon could hardly wait for me to finish my story, — 
but was under the intensest excitement ; — it seemed as 
if he were standing on live coals, and that his whole 
soul was writhing in the fires of torturing suspense. 

" Do you know where she is '?" he asked, in the greatest 
anxiety. 

" No ; I am seeking her ; I hope I can find her. I will 
be going. You had better stay here till I return ; you 
may see what will be too much for a father's endurance." 

" I can not stay ; I must go ; I will know the worst. 
It can be no worse than this horrid suspense." 

We went immediately, I leading the way. Know- 
ing that Mrs. Madden was a medium, and one of the 
prime movers of this clique, I concluded that if any 
dark deed was to be committed, she would have a hand 
in it. Accordingly, I bent my steps, or I will rather say, 
God directed them thitherward, — for none but an all- 
seeing Providence could have brought us here so oppor- 
tunely; — we arrived at the instant to save you from 
death. I felled your assassin to the floor, — and after a 
desperate struggle, succeeded, — with the help of Mr. 



248 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Brandon, — in tying his hands and feet ; — he now lies 
in the back room, cursing most fearfully, his luck, — his 
God, — but more particularly his cowardly employers, 
who fled through the window as soon as they were 
aware of our presence. 

"I can not describe the joyful meeting between Mr. 
Brandon and his twice-saved daughter; but you can 
imagine it, and read it in their heaven-lit faces." And, 
indeed, I could see the tears of joy in their eyes. 

"Oh! my daughter, my own dear Henriette," the 
father exclaimed clasping her in his arms, "how good 
is God, — this moment is too happy. I can not tell my 
joy. Let us kneel down and offer up thanks to that 
merciful God who has answered our prayers, and 
delivered us from the hands of the destroyer!" 

Never did I listen to such an outpouring of the heart's 
gratitude ; — it sprang from the deepest springs of the 
soul. My heart also sympathetically beat with his, for 
it seemed that my prayer, as often before when sincerely 
asked, had been answered ; yes ! more than answered. 
The joys of that moment were a foretaste of heaven, — 
where all of our loved ones are restored to us. 

To see the inexpressible delight of the parent and 
child at that moment. Oh ! it was joy extatic I 

"But, where is Matilda?" I asked. 

"She is at De Long's," Davison answered; "and we 
must go and get her from that accursed place without 
delay, for there is no telling what these thwarted villains 
may do for revenge." 

Day was beginning to appear, although the thick fog 
obscured the light. I got to the tavern by being sup- 
ported on one side by Mr. Brandon, and on the other 
by Davison.' After seeing me there safely, Davison 
hurried off on foot (first having well armed himself) to 



Toe Spiritcalists and Frke-Lovers. 219 

De Long's. Henriette bound up my wounds with tho 
delicacy of a fairy's touch ; it was with much persuasion 
that I got her to draw the bandages tight enough to 
keep the edges of the wounds together; so fearful was 
she of causing pain. In about an hour, she and her 
father, and a good-natured farmer, started out in 
a lumber-wagon for De Long's. It was nearly noon 
before they returned, bringing Matilda with them ; she 
was brought in on a feather bed, utterly prostrated, by 
long days of cruel disappointment, and grief, and sick- 
ness, and made worse by the infernal drugs given her; 
she seemed but the shadow of her former self. I should 
not have recognized her. Those full, brilliant eyes now 
sunken and dull, — those full cheeks displaced by angular 
bones, — those pearly teeth, covered with a brown crust, — - 
that tongue which charmed the hearer with its graceful 
mobility and liquid words, now stiff, and dry, and 
parched, — those arms, that swelled in their voluptuous 
roundness, now shriveled, their skin hugging the shiver- 
ing bones. Oh! it was a cruel sight, which I gladly 
would have avoided. She turned her large eyes on me, 
and faintly nodded, — her parched lips slowly moving, 
from which came a husky whisper. Tears, one by one, 
ran down the deep hollows of her emaciated cheeks ; she 
attempted to extend to me her shriveled hand, — I took 
it in my own ; and, I confess, though it be called weak- 
ness, I bathed that hand in tears, — I could not help it ; — 
I would not have helped it if I could. That scene was 
a melting of hearts, — there was not an unmoistened eye 
in the room, — not a word was said, — the feeling was 
too deep for words. 

Poor Henriette could not restrain her feelings, but 
leaving the room, she wept like a child. I saw that the 
excitement was too much for Matilda, and suggested 



250 i Lenderman's Adventures among 

her being conveyed to a quiet room, where she could 
get composed and rested after the severe exertion she 
had just undergone. 

The story had now spread through the little burgh, 
w r hich numbered some fifty or sixty houses. It only 
takes two hours and a half for such an item to pervade 
the innermost recesses of a country town. It is really 
astonishing how news will fly through such a place. 
Tell Mr. Dumpkins, at the lower end of town, that far- 
mer Crabb's brindle cow got choked on a turnip ; — go 
into the bar-room of the tavern (all country towns of 
this size have two taverns), — get a drink of warm water 
out of a whisky tumbler, — go on your way, and call at 
the last house in the upper end of town, and the first 
thing that greets your ears, will be : 

" Have you heard about farmer Crabb losing all his 
stock?" 

"No." 
* " Well he has, — fourteen cows, — with the old muley, 
twenty-one calves, and two and a half yoke of cattle, — ■ 
all choked to death on turnips; — isn't it awful?" 

Let a new and strange family move into a town of 
about this size, — stay at home, — keep the doors shut, — 
attend to their own business, — speak when they aro 
spoken to; and you can not imagine, how soon every 
man, woman and child in said town will know every 
item, great, small, and indifferent, in reference to tho 
history of said family. If they wish to have a more 
minute history of themselves, than they themselves can 
give, let them go about the third day after their arrival 
and inquire of almost any one they meet, and they 
will be astonished at what they hear. 

It is as impossible to confine an item of news, in a small 
country town, as it is to make a pet possum lie still in a 



The Spiritualists and Frkk-Lovkrs. 251 

corner. It will ambulate, and perambulate, until it has 
nosed every old woman, spinster, miss, and masculine 
within tongue reach. They will rise early, and go out 
with a quilt over their shoulders, — to tell their neighbor 
over the fence, before he gets out of bed, that they saw 
light in the new-comers' house, "till way past mid- 
night." 

" Yeau don't say!" the neighbor over the fence ex- 
claims ; his eyes perfectly open to the wonderful fact. 

"Dew tell!" neighbor over the fence's wife, now 
chimes in, awake to the momentous crisis, poking a 
dirty nightcap, with a very wide, flabby ruffle out of the 
window, — which nightcap covers something resembling 
a distaff of damaged tow. 

" Dew tell ; I know'd thar was sumthin' wrong abeaut 
them ar new comers ; they 're so offish, an' stuck-up. 
I'll be beaund thar's sumthin' wrong. I'll inquire of 
Mrs. Lingual, when I go down after a bucket of water, 
what she feaund out. I '11 bet she knows 'em like a 
book, by this time." 

"Oh, Mis. Labial! I like to forgot it! my old man 
was tellin' me after he come home from the grocery, 
last night." 

" Oh ! I 'm so sorry Labial has to be away so much," 
interposed said Labial's talking half. " I don't hear any- 
thin' more what's goin' on till everybody else knows it. 

" What I was goin' to say, — why, last night, at the 
Dutch grocery, that Jack, as they call 'im, — what come 
with them stuck-up-folks, who's been tendin' on the 
sick schoolmaster, — that Jack come in an' got a bottle 
of liquor an' drinked enough to git pretty blue, an' 
what d'ye think he let eaut? why he said somethin' abeaut 
somebody's bein' pizened. I tell yeau, Mrs. Labial, thar's 
Bomethin' sing'lar abeaut them ar new comers." 
. 22 



252 Lenderman's Adventures among 

Mrs. Labial couldn't stand it any longer. Off she 
bounces ; jumps into her shilling calico, — can not even 
take time to put on petticoat or stockings, — forgets to 
take off the "yaller handkerchief;" — the old "stone"-pipe 
with the cane stem, must lie on the mantlepiece until 
weightier affairs are disposed of; — she draws what 
geometricians would call a straight line, — the shortest 
distance between two points, — said points being Labial's 
back-door, and the town pump. She marks off this 
line into regular sections as with a pair of compasses, — . 
the length of each section being the extreme expansion 
of the legs of Mrs. Labial. Each division was marked 
with a very distinct footprint in the new-made mud, the 
toes making a deeper and somewhat twisted impression, 
indicating that the steps were taken with no little 
progressive velocity. 

Long before she arrived it the pump, she sees, alas ! 
that she has been one of the " foolish virgins " (excuse 
the quotation) ; that others are there before her ; in fact, 
there has been a quorum of Mrs. Linguals at the town 
pump, for half an hour. " Did you evers," and " I 
wonders," and the clitter-clatters of half a dozen women's 
tongues were in full blast. 

There are two "On 'Changes" in all little towns, 
where the mighty affairs of the burgh are canvassed ; — 
stock in chickens and Berkshires are bought and sold, 
and characters quoted. One of these " On 'Changes " 
is the Post-office ; the other the town pump. The Post- 
office is the " On 'Change" of the male financiers, and 
the town pump of the feminine operators. 

The bulletin of the latest intelligence is not only hung 
out for gratuitous perusal, but the news is cried aloud, 
so that neither the deaf, blind nor fool may remain 
" unposted." In half an hour after Mrs. Labial arrived, 



The Spiritualists and Free- Lovers. 253 

breathless, at the pump, the wonderful revelations 
of Jack had assumed a definite, tangible shape in 
every astonished burgher's imagination. There was no 
doubt about it, — half the township had been poisoned, 
and was now writhing in agony. It was well that this 
mild dose of the horrible was given to the burghers 
first ; it somewhat prepared them for the awful shock 
which was to succeed. 

Imagine then, what a commotion there was in town, 
about eight o'clock, when the full details of the tragedy 
broke forth on the astonished place; every individual, 
from two years old and upward, seemed to receive the 
6hock at one and the same time ; what an opening of 
eyes ; what a falling of chins ; what a relaxation and elon- 
gation of visages, generally ; what an avalanche of " oh, 
dears," and "my Gods!" Never had such a tragedy 
been enacted in that quiet little burgh. 

After the wonderment and horror had subsided a very 
little (it takes days and weeks for it to go entirely down 
in a burgh of this size), the well-grounded indignation 
of the citizens began to assume a practical shape. Even 
Judge Lynch was talked of. 

When a poor devil, being a stranger, commits a 
misdemeanor in one of these out-of-the-way places, 
he stands a poor chance; no sympathy is shown him. 
Xothing but the most rigorous punishment is thought 
of; he had no business to be a stranger. The fact is 
indisputable, that a stranger is dealt harder with, for 
the same crime, than a citizen. I have seen men 
brutally stoned and half drowned, for misdemeanors 
which would hardly have been noticed, if the unfor- 
tunate criminal had been a resident. The indigna- 
tion of the community, therefore, having a safe and 
free vent on the heads of the friendless strangers, knew 



254: Lenderman's Adventures among 

no legitimate bounds, but fairly boiled over; and the 
boiling over was like the boiling over of a varnish 
kettle ; it did not quench, but greatly increased the fury 
of the flames. 

The searches for Landor, Jack and the preacher were 
fruitless. De Long, also, was among the missing. It 
was generally believed that they had taken time and the 
night-train by the forelock (the night-train by the cow- 
catcher, probably). It was well they did so, for I would 
not have pledged myself to have put their limbs to- 
gether again, if they had fallen into the hands of the 
burghers at that time. 

The red-man, Lu, and the balance of the Spiritualists, 
being citizens, received more lenity ; after due consid- 
eration of the higher powers, — a self constituted council 
of the " knowing ones " in a small village, including the 
postmaster, the doctor, the storekeeper, the sawmill- 
man, and such like dignitaries, — it was concluded to 
give Lu a trial, and to let the ringleaders of the shad- 
owy society have a chance to " slope," as they called it. 
This privilege of being permitted to " slope," contained 
an important proviso, to wit : that said slopers in pros- 
pective should " hustle their boots." 



The SriRiTCALisTs and Free-Lovkrs. £55 



CHAPTER XXII. 

The Red-man, Lu, brought to Trial. A corn-erib Court-house. The 
Country M 'Squire f* his Library and " Court fixins." Pettifoggers. 
Law in the Country. The Pettifogging Doctor. The County Seat 
Attorney, Mr. McLaughlin, Esq. Country Lawyers. Symptoms of 
being Whiskyized. A Lawyer's Fee. " Fixes it up." The Elephant 
of Law made to perform astonishing evolutions. Legal Lore. Won- 
derful " Precedents." The " 'Squire " is able to defend one side of 
the case. Mr. Blower insists on being advocate for the State. Mr. 
McLaughlin, Esq.'s Speech. Hits the "'Squire" and his Wife be- 
tween " Wind and Water." The Verdict. Singular manner of dis- 
posing of Criminals in the North-west. The Attorney looks out for 
the "main chance." Return to Cincinnati. A happy Company 
depart for home. Waiting for a Letter. 

After dinner, Lu was brought into Court, that is, 
into one crib of a double log-house; certainly the first 
house ever built in the burgh. The ground logs of the 
structure were completely dissolved into their original 
elements. The chinking had fallen out, from time to 
time, and given place to old newspapers and old letters, 
petticoats, old shirts, and hats, and coffee sacks, and 
every other imaginable filling, until I verily believe 
that a remnant of any article in the dry-goods line 
could have been drawn from the crevices of the Hall of 
Justice. Between the two cribs was a passage-way or 
hall, filled with old barrels of corn-cobs, old harness, a 
rusty delegation from every set of mechanical tools. 
Over the hall was a mow of broom-corn, which threw a 
doubt in the visitor's mind, whether he was entering a 
human or equine establishment. The two cribs hav- 
ing settled, from their greater weight, drew the roof into 



256 Lenderman's Adventures among 

a regular hill ; the summit of which was over the afore- 
said broom-corn. To give an idea of the mechanism of 
the roof, I will state that it was undoubtedly the first 
and only roof that was ever put on the house. It had 
been patched, from time to time, as shingle after shingle 
wore out, with new shingles of different lengths, and 
pieces of half-inch and inch-and-a-half boards, varying 
in length from one to twelve feet ; until the canopy of 
the twin cribs resembled a Shanghai's back, in moulting 
time. 

From the gable-end of one crib rose a huge brick 
chimney, whose upper courses of bricks had been seri- 
ously encroached on, at various times, to mend the 
worn out, rat-mined hearth below. From the gable-end 
of the other crib rose a hole (if a hole can rise), which 
had been a very good place in its day, to put a chimney 
through. Entering the crib, that boasted of the chim- 
ney, we were ushered into — u Court" On each side 
of the door was a bed, filling up a corner of the room ; 
two trundle-fixings, and several other things, in com- 
plete dishabille, peeped bashfully from under the beds. 
An old man, with his face to the wall, sat writing at a 
desk, which was filled with all sorts of smoky chattels, — 
documentary, literary and mechanical, — such as deeds, 
summonses " to appear," dirty night-caps, " Lady's 
Books," minus the covers, illustrations and half the 
reading ; papers of pumpkin seeds ; and a prong or 
two of silversmith's pinchers; remnants of worn-out 
sandpaper ; a brass watch, and the running gear of a 
Dutch clock. On the lid of the desk lay the Ohio Stat- 
utes, and a copy of "Swan." The old man, writing at 
the desk, — who was the 'Squire, beyond the possibility 
of a doubt, — would have appeared to be about fifty, if 
he had been close shaved, and his wig had extended 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 257 

half an inch lower ; but as it was, his gray beard and a 
band of silver bordering the sorrel-colored wig, set him, 
at least, fifteen years a-head ; he wore a pair of specta- 
cles, minus the half of one eye, and the whole of ono 
limb, — which limb was supplied by a piece of tape, 
that looked very much like tapes sometimes used for 
going around limbs. He wrote nervously, on different 
pieces of paper, apparently with no purpose but to oc- 
cupy his mind, and pretended to be doing something. 
The room was crowded to its utmost capacity. There 
was a perfect Babel of tongues, — each individual tongue 
a self-constituted attorney, to argue this or that side 
of the case. There were female attorneys as well as 
male, — all the Mrs. Linguals, and Mrs. Labials, and 
Mrs. Eternal Gabblers, were there. No wonder the 
poor 'Squire was afraid to stop writing, and look up. 
I really pitied him. — To hear the legal opinions, then 
and there expressed on common and uncommon law, — 
one would have thought that Blackstone never need 
have written nor Chitty plead, — such an oppressive 
legal atmosphere is not to be breathed in our higher 
Courts. If one wants to know what law is, let him 
have a case before some 'Squire Cranberry of some 
Cranberry town, and he will see all the minutiae of this 
intricate machine. He can there learn the difference 
between a dotted and an undotted i — between Tweedle- 
dum and Tweedle-dee ; — these nice distinctions are not 
to be seen in the larger courts ; you must look at the 
animal through the microscope of a Country 'Squire's 
office to see his wonderful proportions. We had plenty 
of legal advisers, — a one-horse doctor, who supposed 
he had learned all there was to learn in medical science, 
and having no hope of farther conquests in that field, 
from sheer lack of things to be conquered, — sighing, 



258 Lekdermax's Adventures among 

Alexander-like, for more Indias, — had marched over 
and entered the legal territory, — hoping there to display 
his wonderful powers of generalship. As to weapons 
and resources, he had the all-powerful sword of gab, 
which he wielded easily a-la-mode rig-ma-role, and the 
Statutes and "Swan," of the justice, belonged ex officio 
to him as well as to every other individual of the town- 
ship; but his greatest legal resource was his real or 
imaginary "intuition," which enabled him to unravel 
the knottiest of knots, on first principles, or the princi- 
ples of "common law," to the perfect satisfaction of the 
"'Squire" aforesaid. This intellectual prodigy seldom 
had occasion to use the legal works above-mentioned, 
except (by the aid of the index, which was a vexatious 
enigma to him) to hunt up some passage as a text, about 
as applicable to the case as certain scriptural texts I 
have heard before now, were to the sermons that fol- 
lowed ; then he would close the books and expand ou 
the text ad infinitum, — drawing on his "intuition" to 
fill up the argument. It was really astonishing, not 
to say, wonderful, what an amount of argument and 
opinion he manufactured from such a small capital ; — 
and he appeared to be listened to by the open mouths 
and fish eyes of his admirers, with no little interest ; — 
indeed, he appeared to be the whale of this pond. He 
was very liberal with his opinions, throwing them 
round broadcast without restriction or compensation, — 
very unlike the generality of attorneys, whose mouths 
are Hobbs' locks, to be opened but by one key, — the 
dollar-combination-key. 

This remarkable liberality with his opinions, might 
have been accounted for, from the fact of his not long 
having been engaged in legal enterprises, and had not 
as yet, learned the "open sesame" of the trade; or else 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 259 

that he was lavishing his intellectual stores on the u bait" 
principle, hoping thereby to catch, not a gudgeon, but a 
case. 

So far as we were concerned, we thought that the 
case in hand was so plain, as to be capable of explain- 
ing itself; without the valuable assistance of the "in- 
tuitive" barrister. 

The prisoner however had sent to the county seat for 
a regular lawyer to defend his cause ; and our desultory 
thoughts were arrested by the abrupt entrance of this 
distinguished personage. 

That he was the u county seat attorney" was evident, 
-from the whisperings of "herecome3 the lawyer," but 
more unquestionably, by the peculiar swagger of self 
importance, that a "county seat lawyer" can only 
assume in an out-of-the-way justice's court. He feels 
in such a situation, that he ia " some pumpkins;" — that 
he is the man to be said to; "How d'ye do, 'Squire 
Pumpkins ;" — that he is the man that can walk through 
the room and take a chair by the justice ; — that he is 
the man that can look wise and notice anybody or not, — 
just as he pleases, — and can hold the first two fingers of 
his left hand for merchant Merrimac to shake. 

He would have the gaping burghers think it was a 
great condescension for him to leave the superior realms 
of the county seat, and exalt, by his presence, their com- 
parative insignificance. Such small-fry cases before a 
justice, he wishes it distinctly understood, are "no 
object to him ;" he consents to undergo this long 
pilgrimage from the center of the world (the county 
seat) through courtesy to his "fellow citizens," — on 
the principle that a doctor will sometimes take a long 
ride, for the especial accommodation of a patient. The 
lawyer, as in the present instance, is "overrun an 1 

23 



260 Lendekman's Adventures among 

completely pressed down," with important cases at home, 
involving thousands and hundreds of thousands of dol- 
lars, — still his duty to his " fellow citizens," renders it 
obligatory on him to leave these huge legal undertak- 
ings and ride ten or a dozen miles for the paltry sum 
of five dollars. Some have been small-souled enough 
to insinuate that this wonderful self-denial and sacrifice, 
on the part of the county seat champions of justice, 
arises from a desire to display the virtuous beauties of 
their immaculate characters, and the wonderful powers 
of their forensic eloquence, thereby pointing them out 
as the "peoples' choice," at the fall election, and the 
lawyers to be employed in the pig and bull cases of the 
township. And furthermore, these insignificant cases 
before justices are not, unfrequently, the seeds of im- 
portant cases, — the acorns from which grow the mighty 
oak lawsuits, — spreading out their huge limbs in the 
lofty regions of Common Pleas, Chancery and Supreme 
Courts, and sending their ten thousand greedy roots 
into the deepest strata of the clients' property. 

The legitimate " choice of the people," in the present 
instance, was a middle-sized and middle-aged man of 
rather spare and rough features and tanned complexion, 
indicating a philosophic observance of the laws of health 
in being much in the open air ; which precaution men 
of such intellectual abilities are too apt to disregard. 

Truthfulness obliges me to say, that there was a 
decided floridity about the anterior portion of the nose, 
which might have been the index of healthful plethora 
in a salubrious climate, or of a naturally florid complex- 
ion ; but the biliousness of the climate in North-western 
Ohio, associated, as in the present instance, with a de- 
cidedly bilious temperament, would effectually preclude 
such an explanation. And then there was a tardy 



The Spiritualists and Free- Lovers. 2t>l 

movement of the upper eyelids, strongly inclining 
downward ;" and then, as he rubbed past us, singular 
ideas of burnt sugar and spoiled corn flitted through 
our minds ; and then he was ushered in Court by 
a broad-faced, thick-lipped, serpent-eyed Germanian 
dealer in concentrated articles generally ; and then, 
when he walked up to "the bench," with his stove-up 
hat, and said "Howar'ye, ; 'Square, 5 "-he presented his 
whole right hand at the disposal of said "'Squire." — 
"How do yon do, Mr. McLaughlin ?" the " 'Squire," re- 
plied in his blandest style, which was a peculiar one, 
having a semi-pause, or rather drawling before the pro- 
nunciation of each important word, — as though he were 
weighing its import in every possible bearing, — before 
suffering it to go forth. The " 'Squire " had a peculiarity 
of emphasizing these important words by raising up on 
his toes, and then coming down suddenly on his heels, — a 
decided improvement, if not an actual discovery in rheto- 
ric, — enabling the speaker to use not only his tongue and 
hands, but his heels in oratory. As in the foregoing 
interrogatory of "How do you do, Mr. McLaughlin," 
the heels coming down on " Laugh" fairly drove the 
impression home. 

Mr. McLaughlin, having shaken the " 'Squire's" hand 
with great fervor, and given him a very affectionate and 
patronizing look, and inquired after Mrs. " 'Square," and 
all the little " 'squares," and " 'squaresses," (Mr. Mc 
Laughlin knew that it would not set his case back any 
to get on the right side of the " 'Squire's" wife). 

The lawyer, having poured the yeast into his batch 
of dough, and put it to rise under the warming in- 
fluences of the "'Squire" and his wife's domestic 
affections, set himself about seeing what was to be done. 
He was permitted to take Lu (for that was the namo 



262 Lenderman's Adventures among 

the culprit went by) into the passage way, in com- 
pany with the constable. Standing near the door, I 
could not help hearing the conversation that passed 
between them. 

"Well, Lu, I have left a very important case at the 
county seat, to come up here for you. How is it about 
the pay ? — How much money have you got ?" 

"None," Lu answered. "Them cursed Spiritualists 
from Cincinnati have run off without paying me a 
cent, — and in the worst kind of a fix." 
1 Well, what property have you got ?" 

"All that I've got is the half of a crib of corn, — but that 
is all my family has to live on this summer, and I have 
a cow, and a few tools that I work w T ith. I wish you'd 
'tend to my case and get me off, and I '11 go right to work 
and earn the money to pay you." 

"I guess I'd better take the other side of the case," 
said the lawyer, taking out a paper of "Bronson's fine 
cut," and stuffing half of it in his mouth, and looking 
around in a manner intended to be perfectly careless, — 
as much as to say, — Mr. Lu, I guess you 'd better get 
another lawyer (having no intention however of losing 
his client, for be would have talked all day for nothing, 
rather than have missed the opportunity of proving to 
the burghers who was the right candidate for " prose- 
cuting attorney," and who was the lawyer "what could 
put the pig and bull cases through.)" 

" Well, how much of my property do you want, to get 
me clear ? Don't take more than you can help ; for if 
I go to jail, my wife and children will need what little 
we have." 

" Why, I tell you, Lu, I have lost a case worth twice 
as much as all your property, coming up here ; and be- 
side, I can plead the other side of the case, and get my 



The Spiritualists and Free-Loveus. 203 

money dowii ; so you see that the corn, and cow, and 
tools, wouldn't begin to make up my loss." 

" You won't take it all, will you," said Lu, with a 
trembling voice (though a hardened villain, he loved 
his family). 

" No ; I won't take any of it," said the lawyer, with 
a very good imitation of offended dignity. " I'll plead 
the other side of the case ;" and he was turning on his 
heel, casting an anxious look at Lu, which said, " speak 
quick ; I 'm going." 

Lu did speak, and told the lawyer he would give him 
all he had, if he would get him clear. 

"I'll do the best I can for you," Mr. McLaughlin con- 
descended to reply; "but you must give me a bill of 
sale for all these things, before I commence." 

" It seems as if you was very hard on me," said Lu. 

u Will you do it or not ? I 'm in a hurry ; for I want 
to get on the other side of this case, if you don't want 
me ; and if I do go against you, Lu, your 're bound to 
go to Columbus ; for I never lost a case yet, except the 

' great pig case,' and that was the fault of the c d 

witnesses. Shall we fix it up ?" 

"Yes." 

The lawyer borrowed the M 'Square's" writing appar- 
atus (which was a very primitive one, consisting of a 
turkey-quill pen, and the case of an old brass watch 
half full of ink), and with the constable and Lu, went 
into the other crib to "fix it up." 

It would occupy too much space to give a detailed ac- 
count of this unique trial ; although it would be a great 
legal curiosity. I had seen the law elephant, in almost 
every possible situation, but I must confess that I had 
here an entirely new and original view of the animal. 
We never before knew of its wonderful sagacity, as 



204: Lenderman's Adventures among 

illustrated by its keeper, the learned Mr. McLaughlin, 
Esq. He made it go through evolutions that perfectly 
astonished the beholder. He led it up to a hole which 
the u 'Squire," after an examination through the open 
ring of his spectacles, decided was altogether too small 
to give passage to the elephant's body ; but after a few 
manipulations and explantions of the operator, — " pop" 
went the elephant through it, to the perfect satisfaction of 
the " Bench" (a three legged chair with half a back, in this 
case). It would be interesting to give the " 'Squire's" 
dignified speeches and decisions on points of order, and 
some of the witnesses' testimony as to Lu's immaculate 
character, and the suggestions thrown in occasionally by 
the " 'Squire's " wife, and some of the highfalutin words 
which the wonderful attorney got out ; and to examine 
the long list of cases that he referred the " May it please 
the Court" to. The absence of books to substantiate 
the correctness of these references, obliged the aforesaid 
"May it please the Court" to take the attorney's word 
for it. Some of the cases he quoted were very strange, 
almost incredible, in fact. And some of the books and 
authors he referred to, are not to be found in the most 
extensive catalogues of law books, — showing most con- 
clusively to all there assembled, that the attorney was 
an attorney of no ordinary attainments. One case cited 
we never had seen reported in a law book, but had often 
read it in the Old Testament. Another case of " Mac- 
beth versus Duncan," was very interesting to us, on 
account of our never having known that their case was 
carried up to Court. It was quite interesting, also, to 
Bee the efforts of the medico-legal gentleman to have 
something to say in the matter ; he insisted on assisting 
the prosecution, inasmuch as the prisoner had counse] ; 
it was un-Democratic, un-American, un-just, that the 



The Spiuitl'ai.ists and Fkek-Lovicrs. 2G5 

poor State should stand here without an advocate. The 
u 'Squire " decided, however, that feeling pretty strong 
from having had mutton for breakfast, he was fully able 
to " sit on the Bench/' and pettifog for the State to boot. 
The doctor not being able to illuminate the Court with 
his " intuition, " wasted its effulgence in flickering rays 
among the Dicks and Toms, and Mrs. Labials, in the 
back part of the room ; being careful, however, to shape 
his arguments to the views of the 'Squire's wife, who 
stood there an inexorable, and by no means mute cen- 
sor of the entire Court. Another heroic-looking fel- 
low, — a regular blower, — dressed a-la-mode country 
merchant, — but whose big hands and awkward motions 
bespoke him a cord-wood cutter, or a sawmill-man, — 
was determined to have a hand in the fight ; he actually 
took oft' his coat and rolled up his sleeves for a regular 
letting oft' of gas; for I was told, he was a regular 
laboratory ; being able, without wooding or watering, 
to eliminate gas, for full six hours at a stretch, — indeed, 
he considered "gas-ing" (as he styled it himself), to 
be the natural function of the vocal apparatus. The 
" 'Squire " referred to us, " whether we thought (a drawl 
before "we," and a tap of the heels on "thought") the 
county should be put to the expense of such an amount 
of aeriform assistance? We thought it should not, — 
being a new county," — and not having finished its court- 
house and jail. At this, the laboratory up with its coat 
and left the room in high dudgeon, saying, that we were 
all "d — d fools," and we must make our calculations to 
get along without him, after that. 

But I must pass the numerous serio-ludicrous inci- 
dents that occurred during the trial, and hasten on to its 
conclusion. If some friendly premonition had advised 



260 Lenderman's Adventures among 

ns of the great oratorical phenomenon we were about to 
witness^ in the shape of the attorney's closing speech, 
we should have considered it our duty to logic, style, 
gesture and eloquence, generally, to have taken a phono 
and gestu-graphic duplicate of this wonderful effort. To 
say that it w T as logical, would convey a faint idea of its 
clenched and riveted arguments, w T hich were fairly 
drilled and leaded into the '"Squire's" head. That it 
was entirely legal and " according to Blackstone," and 
"Gunter," there was no doubt, for each proposition was 
sealed and stamped with its Latin label, or at least with 
a dubbing that the 'Squire was to take for Latin : there 
was the cui-throat-a-bus manorum, the ex-come-at-um 
jpluribum, and the corpus grab-am any-wTiere-um. It 
was really refreshing to see the 'Squire's wife open her 
eyes and mouth with wonder, as these thunderbolts of 
law came crashing forth from the attorney's resonant 
mouth. His vindictive against " the cruel persecutors " 
of his client, was legitimately defiant and martial. But 
all this was as nothing, when compared with the final 
closing up, or the pathetic part; when he appealed to 
"the feelings," as he styled it. 

Lu's Betsy, and her little ones, were supposed to come 
up before the " May it please the Court," in exceedingly 
well ventilated attire, and with no superfluous flesh 
(which really were a possible case, after being deprived 
of their corn and cow), and then the u 'Squire's " wife, 
and her little basket of " 'Squire's " chips were supposed 
to be placed in precisely the same interesting situation ; 
and here the Demosthenes, No. 2, pulled out a silk 
handkerchief, which once was red, and wiped his eye- 
lids. This was a dead shot ; this took the Squire and 
his wife, between wind and water; she boo-hooed right 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 207 

out; and I verily believe that if the tender-hearted 
attorney could have had a horn of burnt sugar and 
M baldface," just at that time, he would not have stopped 
till he had made every lachrymal gland in the room to 
flow like an eave-spout. Every thing earthly has an end ; 
the attorney's speech was not an exception ; it, and day- 
light, ended at about the same time. 

The u 'Squire" thought he would be able, if nothing 
happened, to come to a decision in about a week; but 
the " constituency " there assembled, insisted on an 
immediate decision, as the County should not be put 
to the expense of keeping the prisoner so long. The 
" 'Squire" took the Statutes, Swan, his wife and theattor- 
ney, and retired to the other crib. They soon returned, 
and I noticed the attorney whispering in the ear of the 
constable, and of the principal Mrs. Labials and Mr. 
Somebodys of the place. I overheard him telling Mr. 
Waxed-end, who was rather hard of hearing, that, to 
save the county expense, they had concluded to let Lu 
" slope." The constable was to take him home to get 
his clothes, preparatory to being taken to jail, and when 
ne had got his clothes, the constable was to be taken 
with a sudden fit of chronic rheumatism, and Lu was 
to M slope" as aforesaid. 

After the " 'Squire" had written down in the docket, 
that the prisoner should be bound over to Court, the 
sloping operation, — which seemed satisfactory to all 
parties, — and especially to the attorney, who was already 
u dickering" with another client, who owed him, to shell 
Lu's corn, and bring it, and the cow, and tools, down 
to him. The " sloping " was performed before the eyes 
of the assembled burghers, including the " 'Squire" and 
his wife. 

As Lu went over the hill, he did not seem to be in 



268 Lenderman's Adventures among 

any particular hurry, as though he had no fears of being 
followed. We did not feel disposed to interfere with 
this singular way of disposing of criminals. We had 
found what we so anxiously sought ; we felt satisfied 
and were too happy to desire revenge ; we were all too 
glad to get away from this scene of so much trouble. 

The next morning's train took us on our homeward 
course, — Matilda riding very comfortably on a bed sup- 
ported on two seats. 

We w T ent no further than Bellefontaine that day, and 
the next day we arrived in Cincinnati. Matilda stood 
the jaunt much better than we expected ; being freed 
from the poisonous drugs, and being borne up by the 
kindness, and never-tiring attentions of Henri ette, her 
appetite grew better, and her strength actually increased 
by the exertion of traveling. The company staid in the 
city about two weeks, for Matilda to get fully recovered. 
I forgot to mention, that the schoolmaster accompanied 
us. Mr. Brandon insisted on this arrangement, saying, 
he was greatly in need of just such an enterprising and 
trustworthy man to take charge of his plantation; he 
had been long seeking for a competent man, in whom 
he^could put implicit confidence to fill this situation. 
He felt assured that he had at last found him in Robert 
Davison. This might have been the only reason for 
Mr. Brandon's insisting so strenuously on the school- 
master's accompanying them ; but I surmised that Hen- 
riette's wishes had something to do with it. At all 
events the schoolmaster went with us, and a most valu- 
able addition he was to our company. Every day he 
grew in Mr. Brandon's favor, who said to me one day, — 
" I don't see how I have done without Robert as long as 
I have. It seems that I could not get along without 
him ; he has become as dear to me as if he were a son." 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 

Matilda having disposed of her furniture, and having 
sufficiently recovered to proceed on the journey, I took 
a final leave of her, and the others. I will not describe 
the parting; it was painful, — but not without its joy. 
Mr. Brandon and his daughter, filled with gratitude, 
insisted on my paying them a visit at no distant day. It 
was with much argument that I prevented the thankful 
father from forcing on me a munificent sum. I consid- 
ered that I had done no more than my duty, — no more 
than I would expect any man to do, without expectation 
of recompense. They all promised to write to me as 
soon as they arrived home. In about ten days I began 
to look for a letter ; but twice ten days passed and none 
came. 

A majority of people are careless about writing 
where business does not compel them to. How often 
do we promise, on parting with friends, to write to 
them immediately ; and how often do we neglect to do 
bo ! Having experienced similar disappoii\tments be- 
fore, I concluded that domestic pleasures and duties had 
bo absorbed my friends' attention that they had neglected 
to w r rite. 

I never learned who sent me the telegraphic dispatch 

from , urging me to come there immediately. I 

surmised it was some conscience-stricken Spiritualist, 
who was afraid to acknowledge the act. 



270 Lendekman's Adventures among 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

A large Letter. A most interesting and exciting Narrative from the 
Schoolmaster. A trip down the Mississippi. Mysterious Passengers. 
Matilda and Henriette missing. Mr. Brandon and Davison return 

to . "Waiting for a Steamboat. The Father stricken down with 

despair. Fruitless Search. A Clue. The Little Boy's story. Pursuit. 
A Mississippi Homestead. Negro " Frolic and Breakdown." Phil 
lets it out; His " dicker " with the strange men. The " Handsum 
Wimen." Important Discovery. A Night ride through the "Woods. 
Phil's Cabin in the wood. " Just in Time." An Exciting Scene. 
Henriette Saved. Sam's Cabin. Important Arrest. A Happy Liber- 
ation. A couple of " bad-scared " Negroes. Air Castles demolished. 
"Massa Jennins." " Perfectly astonished." Going to Court. Bound 
Over. A Mississippi Lawyer. Landoi^s Letter to his "Wife. Falleau's 
Letter to Miss Callan. Return to . A happy Reunion. 

In just one month from the departure of my friends 
from Cincinnati, I received a letter, or rather a package 

post-marked . On opening it I found it contained 

twelve closely-written sheets, which read as follows : 

"My very Dear . 



I hasten to tell you why I have not written sooner, and 
to give you an account of what has happened to us, 
since we left Cincinnati. I thought, when parting from 
you, that our troubles were over, but they were not. 
The Scripture says, ; whom the Lord loveth, he chasten- 
eth. 5 May it be so with us, — and may He bring us 
safely through all our troubles, — that we may enjoy the 
domestic quietness of a peaceful home. 

Nothing happened us, worthy of note, for the first 
two days of our travel. Matilda gained strength rapidly, 
so that she took a short walk on shore, at every landing 
where our stop was long enough to admit of it. 



The SriKiTUALisrs and Fbee- Lovers. 271 
She expressed a desire, when we should arrive at 



to go and see Mr. , the foreman of the coroner's 

jury, of whom you told her. She wished to make 
arrangements to have a set of tombstones put to the 
grave of Emily Lee. 

Mr. Brandon and myself had taken a stateroom, 
as likewise Matilda and Henriette had done. All the 
staterooms in the ladies' cabin having been taken up, 
they had to take one in the main cabin. 

Matilda remarked to me, the next morning after we 
started, that the occupants of the room next to theirs, 
being three men, kept themselves constantly secluded 
during the day, — not even going out to their meals ; but 
that after dark, they went out closely muffled up in 
cloaks. She imagined she heard thenTfrequently whis- 
pering to one another, and noticed that, whenever she 
and Henriette were conversing, they kept perfectly still. 
Nothing farther was thought of the matter. We arrived 

at just at dusk. Mr. Brandon and myself had 

not slept much, the night before, being disturbed by the 
noise of the boat, to which we were both unaccustomed. 

Having laid down soon after tea, we both fell asleep, 
and were not aware of arriving at . 



When I awoke, the steamer was still under- way, and 
the lamps were lit in the cabin. Mr. Brandon was still 
sleeping ; — it was nine o'clock. On asking how long 

before we should arrive at the clerk told me we 

left that place two hours ago. I immediately went into 
the ladies' cabin to make apology to Matilda for not 
seeing her at , as I knew she wished to go on shore. 

She was not there. Not seeing either of the ladies 
before the ladies' cabin was closed, I concluded they had 
retired for the night, and went to bed myself. 



272 Lenderman's Adventukes among 

When the breakfast bell rang, next morning, Matilda 
and Henriette did not appear. 

The chambermaid went to their room ; they were not 
there. We became alarmed. The whole boat was 
quickly searched; but they were found nowhere on 
board. The mate said, ; that two ladies, bearing their 

description, went ashore at asking him how long 

the boat would remain. 5 None of the deck-hands saw 
them return. We were forced to believe that they had 
been left. 

Our anxiety was intense. We were put off, with our 
baggage, at the next landing. Here we waited im- 
patiently, from hour to hour, with eyes continually 
strained southward, and ears anxiously listening for the 
dull puff of an upward-bound steamer. 

Time goes wearily, when one is waiting at a Missis- 
sippi river landing for a steamboat, when he is on ordi- 
nary business ; imagine then, how painfully the time 
dragged with us. 

Mr. Brandon became almost crazy with ineffectual 
watching. Finally, after mid-day we heard the distant 
puffing of a steamer, which was so far off as to sound 
like some inveterate snorer ; but alas ! for our hopes ! 
the steamer was coming down. 

We are apt to say, under such circumstances, that 
every thing is sure to be going the wrong way. But 
we had a hope that the ladies might be on this boat, 
being the next one after us. We hastened on board, 
when she landed, but found them not. It was not long 
till our eyes were gladdened by the sight of a boat 
coming up, which took us aboard and landed us, the next 

day, at . Weary and broken down with anxiety 

and watching (for need I tell you that sleep had fled our 



The Spiritcalilts and Free-Lovers. 273 

eyes, and appetite our taste?) We hastened to the 
coroner. 

He said that Matilda and Henriette were there two 
evenings before, and after remaining about ten minutes, 
departed for the boat. In vain did we search for them. 
No one in the whole city had seen them. Finally, 
when almost ready to sink into despair, not knowing 
what to think of their mysterious disappearance, a little 
boy about eight years old, hearing us inquiring for the 
ladies, said, he saw two men, the evening before, get 
out of a close-covered carriage and throw their cloaks 
around a couple of women as they were walking along 
an unfrequented part of a street, leading to the river, 
and carry them into the carriage. The driver immedi- 
ately whipped his horses and drove off toward the back 
part of the town, as fast as the horses could go. 

The thought flashed in my mind, — is it possible that 
we have been followed by these fiends, from whom we 
so narrowly escaped! Can there be any connection 
between this singular disappearance, and the mysterious 
occupants of the stateroom, who never showed them- 
selves till after night ! 

Under such circumstances, the mind is apt to give 
birth to the most fantastic creations, — although there 
seemed nothing in this supposition impossible, nor 
what we might not expect from the desperate character 
of those who w r ere seeking to destroy our peace. 

I did not communicate my surmise to Mr. Brandon ; 
for he had as much trouble now as he could endure ; he 
6eemed perfectly paralyzed with grief, and incapable of 
thought or action. When I asked him what we should 
do, he answered : 

"I don't know. Do as you think best." 

I got some hand-bills struck off, offering a reward for 



274 Lenderman's Adventures among 

their recovery, and immediately started a man out on 
each road leading from the city, to post them up, and 
learn what they could. In they meantime, to confirm my 
suspicions, I had found out where three men had hired 
a barouche, on the evening of the disappearance of the 
ladies. They hired it for three days ; and the livery man 
seemed quite anxious about the safety of his property, 
after hearing the little boy's story. 

Being strangers, one of the men had proposed leaving 
a valuable gold watch, in security for the barouche, 
which led the owner to suppose he needed no security. 

The men were muffled up so that no description of 
their persons could be given. I occupied myself, dur- 
ing the day, in inquiring of almost every person I met, 
and especially of those coming from the country. Sev- 
eral persons, living at different distances, on a certain 
road, said that they were awakened in the night by their 
dogs barking at a carriage going along the road very 
rapidly, on the night of our landing. 

I waited in the most painful suspense, about thirty- 
six hours, — all the men I had sent out had returned but 
one. I then set out on horseback, in company with two 
officers and the livery man, — all of us well armed. 

We left the disconsolate father in town, in case some 
news of the missing ones might come there. "We took 
the road on which I had heard of the carriage passing, 
and the one which the man had taken who had not 
returned. These circumstances gave us hope that he 
was on track of them. We had traveled about thirty 
miles, when a carriage came in sight; instantly our 
companion recognized it as his. My heart scarcely beat 
till we met it. The driver was a stranger to me,— as 
also to the others. No one was inside the carriage. 
The driver told us he was hired by a man who met him 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 275 

on the road, about forty miles back iii the country, to 

bring the carriage to . On being told it belonged 

to one of our party, he said the man had given him 
money to pay for the use of it. The driver's descrip- 
tion of the man corresponded exactly with that of De 
Long's. I felt myself almost confirmed in my suspi- 
cions. We were satisfied, from the driver's manner, 
that he was in no way connected with the men's busi- 
ness, other than taking the barouche back. The man 
told him to tell the owner of the barouche that he had 
found his business such as to prevent him returning 

to by the time specified. We told the driver our 

business, and he gladly volunteered to assist us. The 
livery man returned with his carriage, and the stranger 
went on with us, — having brought a horse to ride back. 
He said, about ten miles from his home, he met a man 
on horseback who inquired, very minutely, as to how 
he came by the carriage ; so minutely, indeed, that he 
began to fear it had been stolen, and that he might get 
into difficulty. The man that he met, we concluded, was 
the man I had sent out, who had not returned. We 
hastened on, therefore, full of hope. We traveled till 
we arrived at the home of our guide, which was after 
midnight. The moon shone brightly, and if our minds 
had been at ease, it would have been a not unpleasant 
ride, though we got rather tired and hungry toward the 
last. He lived about half a mile from the road, in a 
hewn log-house, which was considered a very good 
house, no doubt, when it was first built. It was what 
is called a double log-house, having a passage way 
between the two large square rooms. One of the rooms 
was used for a kitchen and eating-room, and the other 
for a sleeping and sitting-room ; the passage way an- 
swered as a porch, and was used, in hot weather, for a 
24 



276 Lenderman's Adventures among 

dining-hall. The house was much dilapidated and out 
of repair, as also appeared to be the stable and the 
fences ; the orchard, which we passed through, never had 
been trimmed, and many of the trees were dying from 
old age. It appeared as though the first owner of the 
place had been very industrious and tidy, — a thrifty 
farmer, — but that his successors (the present one being 
the second, — a grandson) had taken no pains to keep 
the premises in order, but had let it grow up to briars 
and brush ; and had worn out the soil with successive 
crops of the most exhausting kind. Our guest's ser- 
vants were having a high time of it. (Jennings was 
a bachelor ; hence when he was gone from home, the old 
proverb was verified, — "When the cat 's aw T ay, the mice 
will play)." It being a beautiful night, and not expect- 
ing their master home for two or three days, they had in- 
vited the servants of the neighboring plantations to have, 
what intellectual society would have called "a happy 
re-union," but what they called a "reg'lar breakdown." 
They were "going it," in a cotton room, most joyfully, 
to the melodious strains of a three-stringed fiddle, and 
a fig -box banjo. Their happiness seemed complete. 
Such dancing, and capering, and grinning, and gesticu- 
lating, and singing, and shouting, and showing of ivory, 
and eyeballs, threw entirely in the shade any thing I 
had before seen or heard, in the shape of negro min- 
strelsv. It was a regular outbursting and overflowing 
of the good feelings of our nature, unalloyed by trouble 
or thought of any kind. Beside this, the air wa 
savory of delicious viands, — of turkey, of pig, of ham, 
of chicken. The sissing and spitting that we heard ii 
the adjoining "quarters," assured us that many a hen- 
roost, and turkey tree, and pig-pen, had suffered that 
night ; and we could smell onions and potatoes a-boil- 



The Spiritualists and Fjhbb-LovHrs. 277 

ing, and batter cakes a-baking, suggestive of "active 
transactions " in the provision market. The proprietor 
was rather disposed to "come down " on them, at first, 
but I suppose, on account of our presence, he concluded 
to let them have their "spree" out, as he styled it, 
and " bring them up standing " in the morning. He 
thought, also, that it would be a good opportunity to 
learn whether there was any insurrectionary or emigrat- 
ing spirit among the blacks of the neighborhood, for 
the planters had been quite uneasy on this point lately, 
on account of several negroes having run off. We did 
not care to disturb the negroes in their enjoyment, and 
so we laid down (after partaking of some cold corn 
bread and boiled pork), to get a little rest for our next 
day's labors. Scarcely had we laid down when our 
host came in with a hurried step, and an anxiety of 
countenance, expressive of having discovered some- 
thing of importance. 

"'I've heard of your women,' he exclaimed; 'I 
know where they are.' " 

If ever three individuals jumped up in the shortest 
possible time, that operation took place about this time, 
seventy miles east of . 

"Where are they! where are they!" We hardly 
gave him time to tell us. 

" 'I overheard two boys talking about them,' he con- 
tinued ; ; one of the boys belongs to a large landholder, 
about seven miles from here ; this fellow has the confi- 
dence of his master, and lives off in the woods with his 
wench, alone, some two miles from his master's house ; 
his business is to take care of a large number of hogs 
that live on the mast about him. Sam, another black, 
whose business is the same, lives half a mile from him. 
lie was telling this other boy, that he and Sam had just 



278 Lenderman's Adventures among 

got hold of a fat job. (I '11 tell you just how they 
talked) : 

"An' what d'ye think 'tis, Gum? ye can't tell no- 
how. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Won't ye tell nobody, if I '11 tell 
ye, Gum, hey?" (He 'd been takin' right smart of white- 
eye, I reckon). 

" No, Phil, I won't tell nobody, sure !" 

"Wal, ye see, Gum, I's gwine to hunt up the one- 
eared breedin' sow (she hadn't cum up fur two days), an' 
I met an awful nice carriage on the road, — fancy hosses 
too, — all ; fixed up ' to smash, — rale city riggins ; it was 
all shet up, you couldn't see nothin' inside. The man 
a-drivin' stopped me and asked me all about whar I 
lived, and what I worked at, an' who lived by me, till 
I didn't know what next he 's gwine to ask. Bym-by, 
he said, gettin' off from the carriage and takin' me off 
to one side (he talked close to my ear, almost whisp'rin'): 

" 4 D'ye want to make some money, you and your 
other man, Sam, — and make it right easy?' " 

" Wal, yes, ses I ; — can't I make it all without Sam ? — ■ 
I 'm a buster at work. Me an' Sal 's a team, — you can 
bet on that? Sal can shoulder a two hundred hog, — 
an' I can shoulder the hog and Sal too." 

" 'No, it aint any hard work. I want you and Sal 
to keep a real handsum woman for us, and Sam to keep 
another.' " 

"You ken bet, Gum, I opened my peepers, sum. 
1 Keep a couple o' handsum wimen !' " 

" ' Don't stand thar gapin', like a d — d fool,' the feller 
sed, shakin' me by the shoulder. ' Will you do it or 
not?'" 

" Why, — yes, — I s'pose so," I sed ; I darn't refuse, for 
I 's afear'd the feller 'd kill me, he looked so orful cross." 

" < There's three men of us,' " he sed. c Now if you and 



The Spiritualists and Fuee-Loveus. 279 

Sam do jest as we tell ye we'll git you the nicest 
things to live on, an '11 give ye enough to dress finer 'n 

any nigger this side of ; but mind ye, if ye tell 

a livin' soul anythin' about our bein' with ye, I'll cut 
yer d — d throat from ear to ear.' An' he was a-gwino 
to show me how he 'd do it, with the sharpest lookin' 
butcher knife yon ever seed ; but I told him he needn't, 
as how we 'd do jest as they said. He took me then to 
the carriage, and showed me the t 'other men, and the 
wimen. One of the men was an almighty handsum 
feller. And the wimen. — Oh! you git out! Gum, 
'twould make yer mouth water to look at 'em. I tell 
ye, they looked jest like what old dad Fairbanks calls 
4 angels,' when he's exortin'. But one of em's the 
handsumest; she's nothin' but a gal yet, nuther; she 
set along-side the handsum feller. T'other one's 
older, but she's a reg'lar woman, I tell ye. She's thin, 
though, an' looks as if she'd jest got over the yaller 
ikver. You 've seen old massa's Kate, haven't ye, — hey ? 
Wal, she can't hold a candle to that young gal. I 
thought Kate couldn't be beat ; but she's nowhar. 

"But what d'ye think, Gum! that handsum feller 
wants to marry that angel (for I can't call 'er anythin' 
else) an' she don't want 'im, an' she's cryin' herself 
almost to death. The handsum feller's a-stayin' with me, 
and t'other woman, and the two men's a-stayin' with 
Sam. I expect they 're a-goin' to do somethin' desp'rit 
t'night, fur they was almighty anxious to git me and 
Sal, and Sam, and his Peg off to the flare-up, as soon's 
we got word of it. 

"jSTow I tell ye, Gum, don't ye never tell nobody, an' 
when we're through with this job (I reckon how they 
won't stay very long) I'm a-gwine to get up a rousin' 
big frolic, I tell ye. I '11 beat this all to smash. Now 



280 Lendermah's Adventures among 

if ye don't tell nobody, I '11 give ye half the bossin' 
to do. 

u Oh ! ye needn't be afear'd," the other boy said, "if 
anybody gits anythin' out o' Gum, they '11 have to do it 
when he 's a-snorin.' " 

This was the longest story I ever listened to ; but it 
was impossible to get Jennings (our host's name) to 
abridge it one word. He could not come to the point, 
without telling the whole conversation. I was glad 
then when he was through, and I could urge immediate 
action. He wanted to stay and "see the frolic out," 
but we could not consent to this. Partly by persuasion, 
and partly by the glitter of a double eagle, he consented 
to go with us at once. 

We started off on a brisk trot, which I urged on to a 
gallop, going through fields and lanes, along ravines and 
over hills, — now through an open wood, and now single 
file along a narrow path, hemmed in on either side by 
impenetrable underbrush and briars. Our hats, and 
clothes, and faces gave, in legible lines and rents, a 
graphic account of the journey; but we made good 
time. Our guide was perfectly at home, in this laby- 
rinth of cross-roads and tracks, leading to every point 
of the compass. I don't think we had rode more than 
an hour, when our leader turned his head and said : 

" D'ye see that opening yonder? That's where Phil 
lives; and half a mile farther is Sam's cabin. Let's 
hitch our horses here in the woods, and creep up to the 
house, so as not to disturb the dogs." 

Standing under the window (if a square hole in the 
logs, closed with a rough board door, hung on a pair 
of old brogan soles, can be called a window) we heard 
two voices inside. I recognized them, at once, as Hen- 
riette'3 and Landor's. 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 881 

"Oh ! spare me, I beg of you, spare me! Spare me 
for my widowed fathers sake." 

M We Ve talked long enough," said Landor, in a brutal 
voice, "so come along; I'll not wait any longer." 

A scream which pierced the rude walls of the cabin 
startled us. We sprang with one movement to the 
door ; it leaped from our hands and we stood before the 
paralyzed libertine. He stood by the side of a rude 
be.l, on which Henriette lay unconscious as when she 
shall lie in her winding-sheet. One of the officers 
clapped Landor on the shoulder, saying : 

M I arrest you in the name of the commonwealth." 

In spite of his entreaties, and even tears, they put 
shackles on his feet and hands. I understood but little 
about the healing art, but I had heard that fresh air was 
always good under such circumstances, so I carried 
Henriette to the door while Jennings fanned her with 
his broad panama. 

Sudden gaspings and twitchings of the face and limbs, 
gave us hope that she wa3 reviving. Oh ! what mo- 
ments of agonizing suspense were those. I never 
before knew how dear that life was to me, which I was 
now trying to prevent leaving its fair tenement ! While 
gazing on those heavenly features, I inwardly, and with 
all my soul, wrestled with God for his assistance. It 
was granted ! She opened her eyes ! she beheld me. 

Oh ! what rapture ! This was heaven ! Xo greater 
thrill of joy could stir my soul ! 

Thank God, — thou blessed God, I thank thee! she 
Hired 1 These involuntary exclamations brought 
her completely to consciousness. 

" Robert ! Eobert ! Oh ! how is this ! Is this so, or 
do I dream ?" she asked, looking around with uncer- 
taintv on the strange faces. 



282 Lenderman's Adventures among 

"Thank God, it is all reality," I exclaimed. "God 
has sent us to save you!" 

And then she gave way to sobs, and laughings, 
and shoutings, until I really feared she would go 
deranged with excess of joy. I got her calmed down 
somewhat, by telling her the danger of her too great 

joy. 

"Oh! I can not help it, dear Robert!" and she fell 
weeping on my neck (excuse my faithful account of 
this scene as it happened, although it involves an affec- 
tionate interest, unworthy your humble friend). 

"But where is father!" she asked, as she jumped to 
her feet. She hardly seemed satisfied that he could not 
be here to enjoy this happiest of meetings. We told her. 

" Come, let 's find Matilda, and get to father as soon as 
we can. Oh ! how thankful that I am delivered from this 
horrid place," and she shuddered as she looked around 
the room and saw her persecutor chained hand and foot. 

" We soon surrounded Sam's cabin, and found 'a 
couple of birds there very interesting to us as villain- 
ologists, — no other than the Rev. Mr. Falleau and Do 
Long, with their prisoner, Matilda, fastened to her bed 
by means of a strong strap sewed around her neck and 
to the bed -post. 

To say that she was frantically overjoyed at her un- 
expected deliverance, would be a faint expression of the 
extatic emotions she felt. Equally hard and humiliat- 
ing was it for the accomplices, in this foul conspiracy, 
to wear the iron shackles. But we wished to make sure, 
this time, of protecting their intended victims from future 
molestation. No doubt, the three prisoners felt real sor- 
row at their unenviable situation. As much as Henri- 
ette had been injured by them, her young, forgiving 
heart would have freed them at once. Matilda might 



The SriuiTLALisTS AM) Free-Lovers. 283 

have forgiven them, but she did not wish her loved 
Henriette to live in constant dread of being sacrificed 
at their hands. 

We immediately made preparations to leave. Put- 
ting the ladies on our horses, and making the prisoners 
walk before us in single file, we reached Jennings' about 
sunrise. I forgot to mention that Phil and his Sal, as 
likewise Sam and his ebony "half," got home just be- 
fore we started. Their approach was announced by 
loud whoopings, as if we were about being pounced 
upon and scalped by some ferocious band of Sioux. 
As they came nearer, the "opening" their voices be- 
came less resonant and more distinct; we could hear 
Phil going on at a rapid rate, — apparently in a higli 
state of exhilaration, — laying off the programme of his 
imaginary frolic. 

"Now, I tell ye, Sam, won't I have a buster, eh?— 
This thing of Jennin's' boys to night won't hold a can- 
dle to it. An' can't we holler as loud as we please 
here, without anybody a-hearin' of us? There's no 
fun 't all whar a feller 's got to talk low, for fear the 
white folks '11 hear 'im. An' you can bet I '11 have 
anuff 4 white-eye;' Phil won't bring it home in a jug. 
It won't run out as it did t' night, 'fore half thah niggers 
av wet their whistles. It 's un aggravation, Sam, for a 
feller t'ah git no morn 'n we 've got t' night. But what 
in the devil 's this, Sam !" he said in a voice very much 
subdued, both as to volume and firmness ; " I say, Sam, 
what d' ye s'pose this means ! We 're cotched, I '11 bet. 
May-be how 's these fellers 'av got company, Sam. 
Let 's go up kind ov slow and see what 's up." 

And they did come up "kind ov slow," performing 
all sorts of gyrations, with their superior extremities, as 
if they would rather "kind ov" fly than walk there. 
'25 



2M Lenderman's Adventures among 

Madam es Phil and Sam remaining at a safe distance, 
listening with both ears and one hand for " what was 
up." Just as a pair of dark globular bodies showed 
themselves round the corner of the cabin, two of us 
pounced upon them, and the two policemen came on 
them from the rear. Jennings was the originator of 
this plot, as he considered a little fright absolutely 
necessary as a moral lesson, to prevent the darkies 
tampering with strange white men. If there is any 
virtue in fright, I '11 be bound they never will be caught 
in such a scrape again; for a pair of worse scared 
negroes, I think, never was seen before. I could feel 
the cold sweet starting from their hands, and their eyes 
and mouths stood open, as if they were testing the ex- 
treme extension of those necessary organs. They were 
perfectly mute, — for their fright was too excessive for 
vocal expression. If the last trump had sounded in 
their ears they could not have been more completely 
terrified. 

Jennings told them these officers were going to take 
them to jail for harboring white folks; — this restored 
their powers of speech ; — if they did not beg in good 
earnest, — to be spared this punishment, — I am not ac- 
quainted with the powers of supplication. 

"Oh! we'll never do it again, Massa Jennin's, if 
vou '11 let us off an' don't tell Massa Jones :" and the 
tears ran down their cheeks (which would have been 
blanched, if it were possible). 

The farce that we were playing with the poor fellows 
rendered the scene ludicrous in the extreme. I should 
not have been running any great risk in going bail that 
these two sadly disappointed gentlemen (one of whom, 
Phil, should have been master of ceremonies for some 
Emperor Soloque), would never again have courage to 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 285 

look a strange white man in the face, for fear he had 
"handsum wimen" to take care of. 

After Jennings had administered what he considered 
enough of moral preventative, he consented to let them 
off, and not to tell Massa Jones. If their mental suf- 
fering had been extreme, their joy was now equally 
exuberant. They were well satisfied to give up their 
vivid anticipations of roast pigs, and turkeys, and kegs 
of " white-eye," which were to stimulate the inner nig- 
ger to a perfect enjoyment of mundane bliss at their 
expected " frolic." 

44 Massa Jennin's" was covered with 44 thankees," 
44 bless-ye's " and 44 God bless-ye's, Massa Jennin's," 
until he most certainly would have suffocated, if these 
shady benedictions had been a material substance. 

It was quite amusing to see with what perfect as- 
tonishment the blacks received their master's premature 
return. If 44 old man Jennin's" had risen from the 
dead, it would not have more astonished them. 

After partaking of a hearty breakfast at 44 Massa 
Jennin's'," while he was out lecturing the blacks on the 
immoral tendency of " breakdowns" in general, — evi- 
dently using some very affecting oratory (judging from 
the outbursts of feeling, I heard occasionally), we all 
started en route for the magistrate's office. A black 
fellow drove the prisoners in a large four-horse wagon, 
whose box would have made an effectual jail : for 
no prisoner could have broken through or scaled its 
walls. 

It was about ten miles to the County Seat, and a very 
primitive road it was, — a capital road for a dyspeptic 
to ride over. If there be any virtue in jolting, a few 
rides would cure him effectually, unless it would prove 
an over-dose of the medicine. 



286 Lenderman's Advextckes among 

At the examination of the prisoners, Matilda gave 
the following testimony : 

"That -four days ago, about seven o'clock in the eve- 
ning, she and Henriette Brandon went ashore from the 
steamer, — — at , to call on the coroner. Return- 
ing to the boat we were seized by Landor and De Long, 
and borne into a carriage, Mr. Falleau acting as driver. 
A handkerchief was held tightly over our mouths, and 
we were driven rapidly off. We traveled all that night. 
In the morning we stopped, while Landor went to a 
house at some distance from the road, and came back 
with a pail of provisions and a bag of grain. Soon 
after the carriage was driven off from the road, and all 
got out in the midst of a thick wood. Having waited 
here about an hour, to eat, and feed the horses, we were 
forced in the carriage again. Our mouths were tightly 
bandaged, and our hands tied behind us. Mr. Falleau 
now sat in the carriage, and De Long drove. We 
became very thirsty, not being permitted to drink any 
thing but some wine, of which the prisoners took fre- 
quent and large draughts. From its effects they became 
very brutal in their manner. The carriage stopped fre- 
quently, when we could hear De Long get off and hitch 
the horses, and walk away, returning in a few minutes. 
Sometimes he would stop to talk with persons on the 
road, always hitching his horses, and taking those he 
talked with off, beyond hearing distance. We finally 
were taken out at a negro cabin, in the woods, in which 
lived a black man named Phil, and a woman he called 
Sal. Henriette was kept here, in spite of her entreaties 
and threats to destroy herself. Landor remained with 
her. De Long and Mr. Falleau took me to another 
cabin, about half a mile distant. I was kept tied to a 
bed, as the gentlemen here, found me." 



The Spiritualists and Free -Lovers. 2S7 

Henriette begged that she might be excused from 
testifying, which was granted, — the Court thinking 
there was abundant testimony without hers. We em- 
ployed an able attorney, this time; not through any 
spirit of revenge, but to secure Henriette from further 
molestation. The prisoners employed the balance of 
the County Seat lawyers, — the principal one of which 
was a Mr. Shavefield, Esq. He was said to be a very 
fair specimen of a Mississippi lawyer. 

In order to give a correct idea of this specimen of 
jurisconsultus Mississippialis, it will be necessary to 
divide him into two parts (which his lineal dimensions 
would well admit of), — his physical part and his intan- 
gible part, — I will not say mental, for this would express 
a larger idea than I would wish to convey. 

As to the third part, which is usually ascribed to 
humanity, to vnt, the moral part, I will make no 
account of in this instance, as, if there were a vestige 
of it, it would have been invisible to the naked eye. 

As above hinted, length was his prominent, physical 
feature. It would seem that when dame Nature origin- 
ated young Shavefield, Esq., she had been out at a 
"taffy pulling," and had made the little shaver from a 
" gob " of boiled molasses, — drawing it out to the ex- 
treme point of its ductility. His pale-yellow complexion, 
very much resembling the color of drawn taffy, rendered 
this supposition as to his germination still more plau- 
sible. He had a long, hollow cheek, not unlike the 
mold-board of a "Peacock" plow, — a protuberant 
chin, making one feel like "getting off from the track," 
at its approach, as at the approach of a "cow- 
catcher." 

He had a dull, sleepy eye, that, I believe, was in- 






288 Lenderman's Adventures among 

tended to be blue or gray, over which the lids moved 
as if there was no need of being in a hurry. We were 
half inclined to think that their motions were retarded 
by something more than natural apathy, — a warm, 
enervating climate might have had something to do with 
it; — we have seen, however, artificial stimuli, such as 
brandy-smashes, Tom-and-Jerries, and the like, produce 
this same drooping of the eyelids, especially if taken 
late at night, — combined with a game at " poker." I 
wish it to be distinctly understood, that I do not throw 
out even an intimation that a legal dignitary of the 
caliber of Mr. Shavefield, Esq. (he having filled county 
offices, through the suffrage of bat-eyed Democracy, till 
he had come to the belief that he was, in truth, the 
Lord's anointed, — the hereditary and legitimate heir to 
all auditorships, States' attorneyships, and suck-at-the- 
county treasuryships, through all succeeding generations 
of u Dimicrats "), I say, that it is not to be supposed for 
a moment, that red tape of this width would require 
any artificial aid, to enable it to hold any possible com- 
bination of circumstances tightly together. This pro- 
clivity of the eyelids downward, was " a way " of Shave- 
field's (it would be well to put in a parenthesis here, 
containing the old saw, that "all great men have their 
ways"). 

Mr. Shavefield, viewed directly in the face, presented 
a somewhat concave, not to say blank appearance. I 
have seen masculine women from the country, before 
now, a little jaundiced, with precisely such faces. As 
to the oral opening of the aforesaid facial concavity, it 
was in perfect correspondence with the attorney's lineal 
dimensions. 

It is evident, that so far as capacity is concerned, 



The SniiiTCALisTs and Fkee-Lovers. 2$9 

nature made ample provision in the construction of thia 
particular mouth, for the debouche of the largest class 
ideas. 

The first impression one would have, on viewing thia 
capacious opening, would be, that it had, to a certain 
extent at least, been diverted from its original intention 
of giving exit solely to voluminous intellectualities. 
For a well marked flabbiness of the lips, a partial loss 
of power, — frequently brought on by the use of narcotic 
and stimulating sialagogues, — a hanging down at the 
corners of the mouth, from which corners oozed a dark 
liquid, requiring to be wiped off frequently by the attor- 
ney's coat sleeve, and more than all, a squirting of this 
same dark fluid at regular intervals, say once in about a 
minute and a half, forced the impression on our minda 
that this forensic mouth-piece was sometimes used for 
other than argumentative purposes, 

So much for the external physiqxce of Mr. Shave- 
field, Esq. His head being covered with a plush cap, 
and his body and extremities with a roomy suit of thread- 
bare black, rendered further description uncertain. As 
to the " manners and habits " of the jurisconsultus 
Mississippialis, I can only give you the results of my 
observations in the trial under consideration. He came 
in Court with a lazy, dragging gait, head and shoulders 
down, plush cap on, a book under the left arm, and right 
hand in the pocket. His eyes appeared to have an un- 
usual expression, from being bloodshot, as though he 
had " burned the midnight oil," the night before, in some 
intellectual operation or other. He did not condescend 
to look at, much less to speak to, any one, until he 
brought himself up standing before the judge. 

He opened his ca3e precisely as Mr. McLaughlin, Esq. 
did his ; to wit, by cramming half a paper of u fine cut " 



290 Lenderman's Adventures among 

in his mouth. It would seem that tobacco and law have 
some relationship, by these cases all being opened with 
" fine cut." And we must admit, from our little ex- 
perience in " lawing," that it is in fact just about as 
cleanly and profitable business as " chewing." After 
the " opening," all other resemblance (either physically 
or mentally speaking) between these two legal characters 
ended. Mr. McLaughlin, Esq. was rather short, while 
Mi*. Shavefield, Esq. was rather long; Mr. McLaugh- 
lin was flashy and quite Shaksperian, when he got 
started ; while Mr. Shavefield was always sleepy. The 
former depended on wonderful and unheard of prece- 
dents, — an avalanche of legal knowledge, and a terrific 
hailstorm of unintelligible jaw breakers ; — the latter 
threw his case entirely on his own experience, — no case 
could possibly occur but had its duplicate in Shave- 
field, Esq.'s forensic experience. He had defended 
"some dozens of just such cases as ours," and knew all 
about them, without consulting the books. In fact, 
referring to a book would have a tarnishing effect on 
the prestige of his legal omniscience. His faithful troop 
of "constituents" and clients, who are down on "book 
larnin', " would lose their faith in him if he were to 
intimate that a book, by any possibility, could furnish 
him with a new idea. 

Mr. Shavefield, Esq. was looked up to and relied on, 
by his unilluminated flock, in the same manner and 
with the same faith, that an "old doctor " would be by 
the aforesaid woolly innocents. They thought Mr. 
Shavefield, — law personified. It never entered their 
mutton-heads that there was any other lawyer or that 
any other man could, by any possibility, oversee the 
gigantic and astonishing machinery of their county crib. 
They never even took courage to ask whether there was 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 291 

any other knowing man beside the wonderful Mr. 
Shavefield, Esq., he being their idea or embodiment 
of human intellectuality, — the "old doctor," to be em- 
ployed in all cases of "janders," and "spotted fevers," 
and " black tongues," — the man to write their " last wills 
and testaments," and the man to administer on their 
estates ; — the man to tell them what their bill was with- 
out wasting paper and ink on "itims." If Mr. Shave- 
field could not save a case there was no use of any 
other doctor trying it; it must die from what coroners 
call a "dispensation of providence." 

So in our case, the wonderful "embodiment" gave 
the judge his opinion, — told what he had done and said 
before, in similar cases, and how it always came out to 
substantiate his opinion ; having done this, and having 
deposited his regular number of huge tobacco quids on 
the floor, and scattered them with the toes of his boots, 
in the manner that a good farmer scatters " droppings" 
over his meadow in the spring (the attorney had an 
original fashion of walking backward and forward, 
while he w r as conducting a case, for all the world, like 
Yan Amburglrs white bear in a hot day; this exercise 
of the lower extremities, no doubt, driving the ideas 
scattered over his extensive terminations, upward to- 
ward the cranium, — in the same nanner that buffaloes 
are collected by a concentrating hue and cry through 
the adjacent country), I say, having gone through 
with his standing programme for all legal occasions, he 
left the patient to the "May it please the court," and 
divine Providence. 

Having done all that human agency could do, and 
being fully conscious of it, he dons old plush again, — puts 
his book of red-taped paper under his left arm, — sends 
his right hand and arm on an exploring expedition 



292 Lenderman's Adventures among 

down the snpersartorial channel of his breeches' right leg, 
stoops his head and shoulders to the right direction and 
stalks out. Not even the coveted assistance of Mr. 
Shavefield, Esq., together with his own valuable pri- 
vate opinions could save his clients. It was beyond 
doubt a "dispensation of Providence," admitting of no 
human alleviation. The prisoners were committed to 
jail to await their final trial at the spring Court, to which 
our company was recognized to appear. 

When the judge proclaimed that the prisoners should 
be " bound over to Court," and ordered the sheriff to 
take them to jail, the preacher burst into tears. Lan- 
dor was dejected, — his spirit perfectly subdued; he 
said nothing, moving mechanically as he was ordered. 
When about ready to leave, the jailer came to us at 
the tavern and said the prisoners wished to see me. I 
went to the jail and found them heavily loaded with 
irons, — a precaution necessary on account of the rickety 
condition of the jail, — which was a hewn log-house ap- 
parently over half a century old, and about ready to fall 
down. We considered the prisoners had as much to 
fear from their present tenement as from the rigors of 
the law. Several holes were shown us where prisoners 
had cut and burnt their way out. Notwithstanding all 
the injuries these men had done us, I could not help 
pitying them in their present condition. I was almost 
sorry we had appeared against them. They begged 
most piteously, and especially Landor, for our mercy, 
promising most faithfully never to molest us again, and 
to make all the restitution in their power for the trouble 
they had caused us. I inquired of an official if we 
could liberate the prisoners. 

" No, sir, you 've nothing to do with them now ; they 
are in the hands of the State, and so are you, as wit- 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 293 

nesses against them. They must remain here till they 
are tried or till they get bail." 

They wished me to write a letter for them, before I 
left. To this I cheerfully assented: I first penned a 
letter for Landor to his wife, and then one for the 
preacher to Miss Callan, whom he had left in a small 
town in Ohio. Landor's letter expressed deep contri- 
tion, — begging his wife's forgiveness, and beseeching her 
to exert her influence in getting her father to obtain 
him bail. 

Falleau's letter was full of sorrow and humiliation. 
He did not wish to write to his wife and friends in 
Cincinnati. He did not seek liberation from his con- 
finement. He felt that he had sinned, — greatly sinned, — 
and that he deserved the severest punishment. This 
letter to Miss Callan was truly touching, expressing 
his grief at the deep injustice he had done her: he 
could not hope for her forgiveness ; he felt that he should 
be punished, and eternally, for it. He besought her to 
repent ; to fall at the feet of her Saviour, who showed 
mercy to worse than she. "Oh! that I could bear the 
infamy and punishment that you will be subjected to." 
And the preacher wept while I was penning these lines. 

"Oh! " said he, "that I never had been tempted to 
tamper with this wicked thing. It has been my ruin. 
It will be my eternal damnation." 

I could not help but feel for his extreme suffering, 
and resolved to do all I could to mitigate his punish- 
ment. 

For Landor I had not so much sympathy ; although 
he appeared very penitent, it was probably because ho 
was in difficulty; if at liberty he would, no doubt, be 
guilty of the very same acts of villainy again. 

De Long had nothing to say, — no requests to make. 



294 Lknderman's Adventures among 

He sat sulkily resigned to his fate, seeming to despise 
the weak-heartedness of his companions. 

The next day after the trial we returned to ., We 

found the father almost deranged with trouble ; — and the 
sudden joy produced by our return threatened to affect 
his mind still more. 

We were soon on our way home again, with thankful 
hearts, that we had been delivered from the plots of our 
enemies. We arrived in due time at the residence of 
Mr. Brandon. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Arrive Home. A Model Plantation. Life in Louisiana. Other Let- 
ters received, a month having elapsed. Joyful tidings. A most 
happy arraugement u all round." " The Happiest of Men." A 
perfect enjoyment of earthly bliss. Joyous Conclusion. 

It would be impossible to describe the joy of the 
blacks at the arrival of "Massa Brandon," and more 
particularly of " Missus Hettie." It seemed as if 
they would eat her up for joy; and she was no less 
affected by the simple expressions of their overflowing 
love. Her eyes moistened as she shook the domestics 
heartily by the hand. And when she came to an old 
woman, whose head was white as silver, she burst into 
tears : 

"How do you do, aunt Betty?" 

"Bless the Lord for bringin' back my c Hettie^ " and 
the old woman cried like a child. 

Mr. Brandon has a splendid plantation, containing 
about fifteen hundred acres, in the highest state of cul- 
tivation. It is unusual to see land in a slave State so 
well improved. Every thing is in perfect order. The 



The Spiritcalists asd Fuee-Lovers. 295 

farming utensils (and he has the most improved of every 
kind) are all kept in their places, under cover, till they 
are needed. The teams of mules and cattle, and the 
other domestic animals, show that they are well cared 
for. The blacks (and there seems to be a superabun- 
dance of them, Mr. Brandon never having parted with 
one since he received the original stock from his father) 
are well housed, in clean little cottages; well clothed, 
and their full round faces are eloquent of overflowing 
larders. Mr. Brandon has paid a good deal of attention 
to horticulture; he has the finest orchards, and the 
greatest variety of choice shrubbery of any planter in 
the country. His outbuildings are all well built and 
painted. The dwelling-house is a regular American 
palace, of brick, with brown stone front, two lofty stories 
high, having a row of tall columns extending around 
three sides. The finishing and furnishing inside is most 
splendid, and is kept in the nicest order, under the 
direction of Susan, a favorite domestic, who was edu- 
cated to this post by Mr. Brandon's deceased mother. 

The house is furnished with cellars, bath-houses, and 
every convenience that modern improvement has in- 
vented. There is a nice little room on the second floor, 
opening on a splendid balcony at the north side, in which 
is kept a very choice library ; on the center-table are 
new numbers of the best magazines and newspapers in 
the country, — among which I noticed several agricultu- 
ral periodicals ; they have their leaves cut, and look as 
though they had been read, — accounting for the system 
and science that appears in Mr. Brandon's farming 
operations. It is evident that Henriette is the reigning 
divinity of the place. All do homage, not coercive, 
but willing, joyous homage to her. To say that she is 
loved by all, would convey no idea of the adoration 



296 Lenderman's Adventures among 

with which this domestic community look up to her. 
If all slave establishments were conducted as humanely 
as this, slavery would be robbed of much of its bitter- 
ness. 

But I must bring my narrative to a close. Mr. 
Brandon, Matilda and Henriette, all send their love ; 
they will write to you in a day or two. Believe me, 
dear sir, I remain your sincerest of friends. 

Robert Davison." 

In a day or two I received three more letters, with 
the same postmark as the above. The first I opened, 
read as follows : 

"My Dear Friend: — 

I feel that the Lord has been good to me. I did 
complain and thought my afflictions were worse than I 
deserved ; but I believe it was all for the best. It has 
caused me to throw myself on the mercy of my Saviour. 
He has listened to my prayers, and raised me from my 
degradation. These troubles have taught me in what 
consists the true pleasure of life, and that earthly 
pleasure is at least but short-lived and mixed with 
bitterness. They have taught me that our life here 
is but a preparation for a better and eternal life. I 
almost thank God for these afflictions, for they have 
opened to me the way of enduring happiness. 

My situation here, is every thing that I could wish 
for. I had despaired of ever finding another such a 
home, as I so recklessly abandoned ; but I have found 
it ; I feel it is far better than I deserve. And what is of 
more pleasure to me, I can make myself useful here. 
My daily prayer is, that the rest of my life may be of 



TnE Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 297 

use to others, and a drawing nearer to that better and 
eternal life. 

Henriette is as joyous as a bird in spring. I some- 
times ask myself, if heaven can contain more of bliss 
for her ? I sometimes think there is a new and essential 
element in her happiness, in the person of Robert. She 
most certainly has more than an ordinary regard for 
him, and I assure you, it is well bestowed ; for a more 
noble heart never beat in the human breast. 

He grows more and more in Mr. Brandon's favor, who 
puts as much reliance in Robert's judgment as he does 
in his own. The blacks also think there never was 
6uch a man as " Massa Davison." I have no doubt, 
that Mr. Brandon will, eventually, give Robert the en- 
tire management of his business. 

Robert and Mr. B. seem to be enjoying themselves 
perfectly in making arrangements for their farming 
operations, for they both have a taste for this business, 
and study it as they would an elaborate science ; as 
indeed it is, and the most noble, profitable, and elevat- 
ing of sciences. 

My dear sir, I never can fully express my thankful- 
ness for the great obligations under which you have 
placed me. God only can sufficiently reward you ; and 
my prayer is, that your life may be a life of happiness, 
and that you may live with the blessed through immor- 
tality. 

Please write often to us, as nothing affords us more 
pleasure than to hear from you. 
Yours, truly, 

Matilda De; Long." 

The next letter read : 



298 Lenderman's Adventures among' 

"My very Dear Friend: — 

How happy I am. I can ask for nothing more. A 
happy home ; a dear father ; Matilda (as near a mother 

as any other woman can be) ; and a brother ; — yes, 

Robert is as kind as a brother could be. We are happy, 
all of us. I wish you could live with us too. I am 
too glad to write much, for I can not begin to tell you 
how very happy I am. 

Yours, most gratefully, 

Henriette Brandon." 

The last letter I opened, whose superscription was in 
a much stronger hand than the other two, read thus : 

"Dear Sir: — 
Inclosed, find certificate of deposit for $500. 
Please accept, as a small testimonial of my regard. 

Yours, etc. 

J. Brandon." 

This last letter was truly of the "substantial" kind, and 
the proper amount of modesty prevents me telling how 
I disposed of it. 

I answered these letters immediately, which was a 
great pleasure. In about four weeks afterward, I re- 
ceived another large letter from . I recognized it 

at once as being; from Davison. Here it is : 



J e> 



"Dearest Friend: — 

I wish you as much joy in reading this letter, as I 
have in writing it. I will break the matter at once to 
you, by sending an extract from one of our newspapers : 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 299 

'married, 
On the 21st inst., at his residence, Mr. James Brandon, 
to Miss Matilda De Long. 

Also, on the same day, and at the same place, Mr. 
Robert Davison, to Miss Henriette Brandon, daughter 
of Mr. James Brandon.' 

I should have broken the news to you by degrees, if 
I had not considered you a very brave man, and capable 
of withstanding the shock at once. I don't know as I 
can say any words that will mitigate the latter part of 
the catastrophe; — it is done! I am the husband of 
Henriette ! 

I almost imagine, sometimes, that I am in a vision, — 
that this is all a delightful dream. It hardly seems 
possible that so unworthy a person as your humble cor- 
respondent, should be possessed of such a treasure, — 
that I should call such a superior being as Henriette, 
4 wife.' I don't know what I have done to win such a 
prize. Surely, I have done nothing for her but what 
any man should have done, without expectation of 
reward. I have done nothing more than my duty. 
When I first accepted the task of being her protector, I 
had no expectation of being any thing more ; but as I 
became more and more acquainted, I came more and 
more, — I will not say, — to love her, — for it seemed 
presumption in me to harbor such a feeling, for one so 
far above me in her approach to perfection. I adored 
her, — she was my divinity, — I did not expect or hope 
that she would have for me any other feelings than those 
of ordinary friendship. And yet, at times, I could not 
help noticing an expression in her soul-speaking eye, 
and glowing face, of more than ordinary regard. It 
seemed to me that she was a being, too good, — too 
ethereal, — too near the angel in her organization, to be 
26 



300 Lenderman's Adventures among 

the wife of any man, much less, of so unworthy a man aa 
myself. That she really, and truly loved me, I learned 
in this wise : 

I was talking with Matilda one evening, alone, when 

with some little hesitation she , I was a-going to 

say, opened the gates of Paradise to me ; but this would 

be sacrilegious . I will say, that she spread out to 

my enraptured vision as near a heaven as could be for 
me this side the grave. 

Give me a woman's eye to look into the heart. It is 
a leopard's eye. It can distinguish things in that dark 
cavity that wholly escape our duller sight. 

"Do you know, Robert, that Henriette loves you?" 

"Love's me! Impossible! No, I did not imagine 
such a thing. You are surely joking, Matilda." And 
I tried to pass off my startled anxiety as best I could. 

" Robert, I am not joking. I am in good earnest. I 
thought, from your manner toward her, that you could 
not be aware that she loves you, — really and truly loves 
you. I know she does by her looks every time your name 
is mentioned. And what settles the matter beyond all 
doubt, she talks of you in her sleep. I told her of this 
yesterday, and she confessed, not only with her stam- 
mering tongue, but with her crimson cheek, that she 
loved you most passionately." 

I pressed Matilda's hand, and she told me afterward, 
that I cried for joy. I know I must have acted very 
ridiculous, for I never felt so happy before. She asked 
me if I did not reciprocate Henriette's affection ? I told 
her of my unworthiness ; that I had not dared to think 
of such a thing. 

"This is wrong in you, Robert, though not inten- 
tional. If you regard Henriette's feelings, you will luve 
her, and openly avow it, for nothing would give her so 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 301 

much joy. She l;as often asked me, since I found out 
the secret of her heart, — c Do you think it possible for 
him to love me ? Oh, if he would, I should be perfectly 
happy.' " 

" Did she say so, Matilda, in good faith ?" 

" Yes." 

" This is too good to believe. I am blessed, supremely 
blessed ! Are you sure, Matilda, — for I know you 
would not advise me wrongly, — that it would be right 
for me to avow my deep feelings for Henriette ; for if 
there be a stronger feeling of affection than love, 1 have 
that feeling for her." 

" Eight! If you can truly love Henriette, it is not 
only right, but your duty to do so, for I am satisfied she 
can not be happy without your love." 

I soon became satisfied, in my intercourse with Hen- 
riette, that Matilda was right, — and I dared to love. 
Oh ! what a bright elysium was now open to me. Her 
presence was heaven to me, — her absence the dreariest 
solitude. Marriage had not been spoken of, nor even 
thought of by me. I loved her dearly, — passionately 
loved her with all my soul. It was a holy, spiritual 
love, — a union of souls too intense and pure for sensual 
alloy. 

When we got fairly settled here, and came to living 
an ordinary practical life, the natural relations of man 
and wife suggested themselves. I did not press my 
suit. The thing seemed to come to pass spontaneously, 
somehow or other, until, by a sort of legerdemain, 
I found myself engaged to be married to Henriette 
Brandon ; yes, to Henriette Brandon. An engagement 
which, if you had hinted the possibility of, the first 
time I saw her, I should have said, impossible, — such 
a thing can never happen ! 



802 Lexdebman's Advexttres among 

Of Mr. Brandon's courtship I know nothing ; but the 

propriety of their present relationship suggested itself 
more and more as they became acquainted with one 
another. The growth of their affection was natural 
and mature, and I believe that their union will be a 
happy one ; greatly conducive to the happiness of both. 

When Matilda asked Henriette how such an arrange- 
ment would suit her, she was overjoyed at the an- 
nouncement. Nothing could have pleased her more. 
Mr. Brandon called me in the library, one day, and 
after some nervous movements at arranging the chairs, 
which were already perfectly arranged, and picking up 
a pen and dipping it into the inkstand, as if to write, 
giving his cravat a pull with the forefinger of his left 
hand, as if the tie were producing suffocation, when in 
fact he could almost have jumped through it, said, in a 
very stammering way, very unusual to him, casting hi.* 
eyes nervously and without any fixed purpose over a 
half-written sheet before him, — which was bottom side 
up, — "Mr. Davison, we-we-we have got some bui-do- 
fa-fami-domestic business to be arranged, and (getting 
the master of his voice) we might as well attend to it 
first a3 last." 

" Robert, I am engaged to be married to Matilda De 
Long ; the thing is settled. Now, I know that you and 
Henriette love one another, and I don't see any objec- 
tion to your doing so ; why not have all the ceremonies 
done up at once I You might as well get married now 
as at any other time, — and then it will be over ; and, 
perhaps, we can attend to business better." 

I did not say any thing, and so I suppose that he 
considered, as the old saw has it, that "silence gives 
consent." 

The next thing of importance I heard of was, that 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 803 

the nuptial arrangements were all made, and that Hen- 
riette Brandon, on the 21st, was to become Mrs. Henri- 
ette Davison ; I can hardly believe the reality of it yet, 
although I have continual evidence of the fact. 

We had a very plain wedding, so far as display and 
invitations were concerned, but a sumptuous and joyous 
one for the domestics. The ceremony took place in the 
double parlor, which, when the folding-doors are opened, 
is capable of containing over a hundred persons. Thi3 
was filled : a narrow line of white, consisting of invited 
relations and friends, and a dark back -ground of sable 
faces, whose white teeth and eyeballs fairly glittered with 
joy. We had a splendid dinner and supper. It did 
one's heart good to 6ee how the perfectly happy domes- 
tics enjoyed it. They can enjoy a feast with much more 
satisfaction than their more highly-favored masters. No 
trouble, or misgiving, or gloomy thought throws its bit- 
terness in their cup of joy. To them the enjoyment of 
the senses has a relish denied to more cultivated tastes. 
As their expression has it, they " throw themselves away 
when a frolic is on hand." Though this exquisite enjoy- 
ment of the palate was the prerogative of the happy 
blacks, — yet there *was a more heavenly enjoyment, — a 
pure ethereal ecstasy that exhilarated my soul that day, 
which can not be imagined by sensual natures. 

Henriette and I were one ! — bone of one bone and flesh 
of one flesh, — ay, and spirit of one spirit. And, I believe, 
Bhe was happy. Oh ! how that added to my supreme 
enjoyment! To know that the being who made mo 
blessed, was also blessed in return! It seemed that 
my measure of bliss was full. Never, — no never can 
there be a happier day ! And Matilda too, and Mr. 
Brandon, were happy. Though their maturer natures 
were less fervent and glowing than ours, yet it was 



304 Lendekman's Adventures among 

plain to be seen that this new relationship of husband 
and wife was pregnant with joy to them. 

I have now been married a week, and my happiness 
is none the less. Oh, may it ever continue so ! If pos- 
sible, I love Henriette more and more every day ; but 
you say our honeymoon is not over yet. I hope that 
it never will be. I hardly can imagine any circum- 
stances that could lessen my love for her ; adversity, 
sickness, or even deformity, would add to it. I believe 
the longer I live and learn of her angelic nature, the 
dearer she will become to me. I am glad that my reli- 
gion teaches me there is an eternal life beyond the 
grave, where souls will meet to part no more : I know 
there must be. My soul tells me that an all- wise and 
beneficent Creator would never ordain that two spirits, 
so vitally and indissolubly connected as ours, should 
remain long torn asunder. No ; when we have lived 
this life out together, I feel that there must be another 
and an eternal life, where we can live in each other's 
being forever. 

But I am intruding on your patience by thus reciting 
my private feelings. How natural it is for us to sup- 
pose others take the same interest in our feelings as we 
do ourselves ; but I do feel so happy that I could not 
help pouring out my joy to one who, I know, will hear 
of it with pleasure. And how, dear sir, can I be suffi- 
ciently grateful to you who was the instrument of my 
being thus supremely blest ! Oh ! that I could perform 
some office for you worthy the deep sense of gratitude 
I am under. One promise I shall exact of you : if 
ever circumstances occur that you shall need assistance 
in any manner, that you promise to give me the boon 
of rendering that assistance. But I am becoming tedi- 
ous, I must bid you good-by; Mr. Brandon, and Matilda 



The Spiritualists and Free-Lovers. 305 

and Henriette, all send their love to you. They insist 
on your paying us a visit soon ; and I like to have for- 
gotten it, — they sent you yesterday, by express, a box 
of the wedding cake. It is beautiful and pleasant to 
the taste, but faintly emblematic of the superlative 
happiness, with which it is associated. 

From your dear friend, 

Robert Davison." 



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